Ashwin claimed his 13th five-wicket haul
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a five-wicket haul and batsman Cheteshwar Pujara scored an unbeaten 63 put their side in command against South Africa on the second day of the first Test in Mohali.
Starting out the day on 28/2, South Africa batsman AB de Villiers and captain Hashim Amla were the only two batsmen to make a major contribution as they scored 63 and 43 respectively.
De Villiers’ knock came off 83 balls and included six boundaries, while Amla’s innings came off 97 deliveries and included six boundaries as well.
De Villiers made a gutsy 63
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
With Dean Elgar being the only other batsman to surpass the double figure mark, South Africa were eventually skittled out for 184, which gave India a 17-run lead.
Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja snapped up three and Amit Mishra chipped in with two.
With a 17-run lead in hand, India got off to a poor start as opener Shikhar Dhawan was caught by de Villiers at second slip off the bowling of Vernon Philander for a duck.
Pujara and Murali Vijay made up for the early loss of Dhawan with an 86-run partnership before Vijay was caught by Temba Bavuma, who was the substitute fielder, at short leg off the bowling of Imran Tahir for 47.
Following Vijay’s dismissal, Pujara and captain Virat Kohli proceeded to amass an unbeaten 30-run stand, during which Pujara brought up his half-century, before stumps was called.
Pujara finished on 63 off 100 balls, which included six boundaries and a six, while Kohli remained undefeated on 11 off 27 deliveries, which included one boundary.
Pujara scored his seventh Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Philander and Tahir claimed one wicket each.
India ended day two on 125/2 and will continue batting tomorrow at 09:30 local time or 04:00 GMT.