Published 15:00 IST, October 13th 2019
India beat South Africa by an innings and 137 runs, win the series
India beat South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series at Pune on Sunday.
India registered a comfortable win over South Africa in the second Test by an innings and 137 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday. All it took for Team India was one innings to completely outplay the Proteas who had to bat twice after Indian skipper Virat Kohli had enforced the follow on after they were bundled out for 275 as the hosts had a 326-run lead. By the virtue of this win, the Virat Kohli-led side are still at the summit of the ICC World Test Championship points table. Spinners made the most of a batsmen-friendly pitch while the pacers too added some scalps to their tally.
A dominant performance
It was a complete performance from team India with the bat, ball and on the field. After skipper Virat Kohli who had scored an unbeaten 254 declared the innings at 601/5, South Africa could never really catch up in their first innings as they lost wickets at regular wickets and by the courtesy of their tailenders Keshav Maharaj (72) and Vernon Philander (44*) South Africa managed to get to 275. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 4/69 which included nine maidens at an economy rate of 2.41.India managed to reduce South Africa to seven wickets before tea, with Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj once again building a partnership to save South Africa of the blushes. In the previous innings, the tailender duo stitched together a partnership of 138 runs, frustrating the Indian bowlers who finally managed to get a breakthrough in the last over of the final session from Ravi Ashwin.
India enforce the follow-on
After the Proteas were bundled out in the final over of Day 3, Indian captain Virat Kohli enforced the follow-on on Day 4 as they had a massive lead of 326 runs. It worked out well as Ishant Sharma picked up the wicket of Aiden Markram on the second ball of Day 4 by trapping him plumb in front of the wicket. Dean Elgar showed some fighting spirit and was also the top-scorer for South Africa in the second innings. However, he failed to spend some quality time out in the middle as he was brilliantly caught by Umesh Yadav off Ravichandran Ashwin for a 72-ball 48. Even skipper Faf du Plessis and wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock disappointed with the bat as they were sent back to the pavilion early. Temba Bavuma (38) and Vernon Philander (37) were the others who could offer some resistance to the Proteas batting line-up as they were bowled out for 189 in the 68th over.
Updated 15:41 IST, October 13th 2019