India vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 2, Centurion, Highlights: Virat Kohli’s fighting knocks keeps SA at bay

India were 183/5 at stumps on Day 2 of the 2nd Test vs South Africa at Centurion. Virat Kohli, unbeaten on 85, holds the key for the visitors -- who trail South Africa by 152 runs. Get highlights of India vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 2 Centurion here

CRICKET Updated: Jan 14, 2018 21:17 IST

Sidharth Gulati 
Hindustan Times, Centurion

Virat Kohli in action on Day 2 of the second Test between South Africa and India at Centurion. Get highlights of the India vs South Africa, second Test, Day 2 from SuperSport Park in Centurion here(BCCI )

India reached 183/5 at stumps on Day 2 of the second Test against South Africa at Centurion. Virat Kohli (85) and Hardik Pandya (11) were at the crease at the draw of stumps. Earlier, the hosts were all out for 335 in their first innings. Faf du Plessis scored 63 while for India, R Ashwin took a four-wicket haul and Ishant Sharma, who replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, took three wickets. Get highlights of the India vs South Africa, second Test, Day 2 from SuperSport Park in Centurion here. (STREAMING | SCORECARD) (INDIA vs AUSTRALIA U-19 WORLD CUP SCORES) (AUS vs ENG SCORES)

21:15 hrs IST: That’s it. Thank you for joining us. Until next time, it’s goodbye. Cheers!

21:01 hrs IST: And that’s stumps. The day ends with 87 overs. So far, it has been Kohli vs South Africa and the same can be expected tomorrow.

20:51 hrs IST: Vernon Philander comes back into the attack. Five more overs left. Can he strike?

20:45 hrs IST: Five runs off the over. India are 175/5, Kohli 80*, Pandya 9*

20:42 hrs IST: FOUR! Full delivery from Ngidi, Pandya shuffles and plays it straight past the non-striker. Moves to nine.

20:36 hrs IST: Seven more overs to go. India would hope they don’t lose any more wickets. Kohli would look to stay unbeaten.

20:29 hrs IST: FOUR! Short delivery from Morkel, outside off, Hardik shuffles a bit and pulls to deep mid wicket boundary.

20:24 hrs IST: WICKET! Another one bites the dust. Ngidi gets his maiden Test wicket. Parthiv departs for 19. India (164/5) in all sorts of trouble now. Hardik Pandya is the next man in.

20:20 hrs IST: FOUR! Overpitched from Ngidi and Parthiv caresses it through cover region. Looks in top form!

20:18 hrs IST: FOUR! Full delivery from Maharaj, Parthiv gets on the front foot and flick it over mid-wicket for a boundary. India are 159/4. 11 more overs to go.

20:14 hrs IST: Keshav Maharaj now. He got the all important wicket of Vijay. Can he strike again?

20:09 hrs IST: India can only level this three-match series if they manage to post 500 plus score in the first innings, or else it’s going to be another series win for the Proteas at home.

20:02 hrs IST: Seventeen runs have come in the last five overs. India are 146/4, Kohli 75*, Parthiv 5*

19:56 hrs IST: The SuperSport Park surface is far from the seaming Newlands pitch but the South Africa seamers have done well so far.

19:49 hrs IST: Parthiv Patel needs to support his skipper here. India need a big partnership.

19:42 hrs IST: WICKET! And now a lot of questions would be raised about Rahane’s exclusion. Another failure for Rohit, departs for 10. Pressure on Kohli now.

19:36 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Maharaj, Rohit comes down the track and smacks it to long on boundary. India 129/3, Kohli 65*, Rohit 8*

19:30 hrs IST: Kohli is going well. Deserves a century here. But against the likes of Rabada and Morkel it’s not going to be easy. He’ll have to work for those (remaining) 35 runs.

19:24 hrs IST: Single off the last ball for Kohli. India are 118/3, Kohli 56*, Rohit 4*

19:18 hrs IST: Aware of his weakness outside the stumps, South Africa have bowled to Kohli in that corridor but the Delhi batsman has showed amazing control over his shots, pushing and driving according to the line of the delivery.

19:12 hrs IST: India are down to their last specialist batting pair. All that hard work has been undone with Vijay’s dismissal.

19:07 hrs IST: WICKET! Not that short from Maharaj, a bit of width, Vijay looks to cut but instead an inside edge and Quinton de Kock does the rest behind stumps. Big blow for India. Rohit Sharma is the next man in.

19:01 hrs IST: Two runs and that’s fifty for Virat Kohli, 16th in Tests. Splendid innings from the India captain! Now it’s Vijay turn to reach the landmark.

18:58 hrs IST: FOUR! Tossed up from Maharaj, Vijay gets down on one knee and sweep it to deep square leg boundary. Moves to 46.

18:54 hrs IST: The wicket is offering slow bounce to the South African seamers and they have battled to create opportunities with the same regularity as they did in the 72-run win at Newlands.

18:48 hrs IST: Kohli plays one through deep point for a single. Three runs from the over. India are 98/2

18:41 hrs IST: FOUR! Morkel goes too full, was asking to be hit and Kohli happily obliged, hitting him straight down the ground. India are 93/2 after 30 overs.

18:38 hrs IST: FOUR! Vijay welcomes Morkel back into the attack with a well-hit boundary through the mid-wicket region.

18:34 hrs IST: And the final session is now underway. Kohli and Vijay will aim to bat through the day but South Africa need wickets, and fast. This should be one interesting session.

18:12 hrs IST: And that’s tea. India have recovered well after Rahul and Pujara got out off consecutive deliveries. Both Kohli and Vijay are nearing fifties. We’ll be back in 20 minutes time for the final session of the day.

18:06 hrs IST: FOUR! And that’s fifty-run partnership between Vijay and Kohli. Has come at a very crucial time. India would hope they both remain unbeaten at stumps.

18:00 hrs IST: Here’s how Virat Kohli inspired Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking T20 century. Interesting read!

17:54 hrs IST: FOUR! Short of a length from Philander, Vijay gets into position and cuts it late past gully. Moves to 29 with four boundaries.

17:47 hrs IST: Fifty-run partnership on the cards. Around 23 minutes to go for tea. India would hope they don’t lose any more wickets.

17:42 hrs IST: FOUR! And the India captain has started to get into the groove. Gets on the front foot and drives it past cover. Fifth boundary for Kohli.

17:36 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Roy’s 180 was also the highest individual score by an England batsman in ODIs. Incredible innings it was!

17:30 hrs IST: Slow yet steady progress from Vijay and Kohli. Sensible cricket from both batsmen. Solid in defence and punishing almost all loose balls.

17:24 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Rabada and Kohli flicks it past midwicket. Moves to 24 off just 27 balls. India are 56/2. Ngidi to continue.

17:18 hrs IST: Solid show from Rabada and Ngidi. No margin for error. Get a feeling something is going to happen here.

17:12 hrs IST: Lungi Ngidi starts with a maiden. Tough task for India. Either of Vijay or Kohli need to get a big century. India are 45/2. Time for drinks.

17:04 hrs IST: Good over for India, nine runs off it. They are 38/2, Vijay 18*, Kohli 10*

17:01 hrs IST: FOUR! Full delivery, on off stump, and Kohli times it sweetly past the non-striker. Stupendous!

16:58 hrs IST: FOUR! Length ball from Morkel, Kohli leans forward and just helps it through cover point region for his first boundary.

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16:52 hrs IST: WICKET! And suddenly, India’s hopes of posting a big first innings total are fading. Pujara gone. Worked a full delivery from Morkel towards mid-on for a quick single but Ngidi is even ‘quicker’ and the Indian is run out. Kohli is in at No.4. The visitors need a big partnership here.

16:49 hrs IST: OUT! Morne Morkel strikes, gets KL Rahul. The South African takes a good catch in his follow through! Rahul would be gutted. Pujara is the next man in.

16:43 hrs IST: FOUR! Second boundary for Rahul. Looks in good touch. Needs to keep going though. India are 28/0.

16:39 hrs IST: Meanwhile, riding on Jason Roy’s record-breaking 180, England have defeated Australia by five wickets to go 1-0 up in the five-ODI series. What a knock from him! Certainly one of the best at the ‘G.

16:35 hrs IST: Two runs off the last ball for Rahul, moves to six. India are 19/0.

16:28 hrs IST: Have to say this is India’s best chance of making it 1-1. Bat once, bat big should be the mantra. Anything around 450-500 would be more than enough. Ashwin would love to bowl on Day 4 and 5.

16:24 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - Mohammed Shami is the 7th India fast bowler and 3rd quickest (among them) to complete 100 Test wickets.

16:20 hrs IST: Not much help for fast bowlers. Both openers should look to get a big one here.

16:16 hrs IST: Dot ball to finish off from Morkel. India are 8/0 after 2 overs. Vernon Philander comes into the attack.

16:14 hrs IST: FOUR! Poor delivery from Morkel, down leg on Rahul’s pads, and the Indian flicks it to long leg boundary.

16:11 hrs IST: Welcome back! Rahul to take strike. Morkel to start the proceedings.

15:31 hrs IST: And that’s lunch. What a session for India! Needed those four wickets and they took them without any delay. Time for batsmen to step up to the plate. We’ll be back in 40 minutes time. Stay tuned!

15:29 hrs IST: FOUR! Gentle loosener from Maharaj and Vijay drives it past extra over for his first boundary of the day.

15:27 hrs IST: Time for India’s innings. Murali Vijay and KL Rahul to open. Keshav Maharaj to start the proceedings, surprisingly!

15:18 hrs IST: WICKET!And that’s it. South Africa have been all out for 335. Ashwin finishes with a four-wicket haul. Good performance from India. But it’ll all come down to how they bat.

15:10 hrs IST: OUT! What a delivery from Ishant. Pitches it up, gets some inswing and it crashes onto the middle-stump of du Plessis. South Africa 333/9. Debutant Lungi Ngidi is in at No. 11.

15:05 hrs IST: FOUR! Tossed up from Ashwin, du Plessis comes down the track and hits it well past the fielder at long on. Moves to 63.

15:00 hrs IST: WICKET! Ishant strikes, gets rid of Rabada. Pandya dives full length to complete a brilliant catch at deep mid-wicket. Morne Morkel is the next batsman.

14:56 hrs IST: And Parthiv Patel drops Faf du Plessis. India missing a certain name - Wriddhiman Saha. South Africa are 324/7.

14:50 hrs IST: Two runs and that’s fifty for Faf du Plessis, 17th in Tests. An important innings from the South Africa captain. Needs to convert it into a big one. But he needs support from the other end.

14:45 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant registered the fastest T20 century hit by an Indian as he slammed a 32-ball ton against Himachal Pradesh in the zonal stages of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy, helping his side to a 10-wicket win. Read full report here

14:42 hrs IST: FOUR! And that’s 300 up for South Africa. The hosts need another 100 runs to put themselves in a comfortable position. du Plessis, who is nearing his fifty, holds the key here.

14:38 hrs IST: FOUR! Back of a length delivery from Shami and du Plessis hits it through cover region. As good as it gets! South Africa are 298/7

14:33 hrs IST: An eventful over. Unlucky Ashwin, should have got his fourth scalp. South Africa are 292/7, du Plessis 34*, Rabada 4*

14:29 hrs IST: Kagiso Rabada dropped twice off consecutive deliveries. While Kohli puts one down at first slip, a mix-up between Pandya and Shami at backward point hands the South African an extra life. This is sloppy stuff from the visitors.

14:23 hrs IST: Two maidens in a row from Ashwin. This is turning out to be another excellent period for Virat Kohli’s side. South Africa are 283/7, du Plessis 29*, Rabada 1*

14:17 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Jason Roy is well on course to hit a century in the first ODI. England, in chase of 305, are 119/2 in 17 overs. Joe Root is unbeaten on 26. Can the visitors register their first win on the tour?

14:11 hrs IST: WICKET! And Shami has struck. 100th Test wicket for him. Maharaj has to depart for 18(54). Kagiso Rabada comes to the crease.

14:07 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami is back into the attack. He is one short of completing 100 Test wickets.

14:01 hrs IST: FOUR! Short from Ishant, a bit of width, Maharaj gets into position early and cuts it past the point region for the first boundary of the day.

13:57 hrs IST: Maiden over from Bumrah. Continues to maintain pressure. South Africa 276/6. Ishant again.

13:51 hrs IST: Only five runs in the first four overs. The hosts need quick runs or else India will get the remaining wickets without any difficulty.

13:46 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - Former South Africa captain Hashim Amla has the most Test runs (1284) by a batsman at Centurion.

13:42 hrs IST: Meanwhile, India have beaten Australia by 100 run to secure of their first win in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. What a way to start the tournament! Skipper Prithvi Shaw’s 94 -- highlight of the match.

13:38 hrs IST: Bumrah continues to keep it tight. Just one run off it. South Africa are 271/6, du Plessis 26*, Maharaj 10*

13:34 hrs IST: Steady start from Ishant. Single off the last ball for du Plessis. South Africa are 270/6. Jasprit Bumrah now.

13:30 hrs IST: Time for live action. Faf du Plessis to take strike. For India, Ishant Sharma will start the proceedings.

13:20 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - 3/90 - This is R Ashwin’s best figures in a Test in South Africa. Can he take a five-wicket haul today?

13:12 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Australia have put on a big score at the ‘G, courtesy Aaron Finch’s century and Marcus Stoinis’ late assault. Follow live score here

13:07 hrs IST: It’s going to be an exciting day. Four quick wickets and the visitors will look to bat out the day. On the other hand, Vernon Philander will have to bowl out of their skin to stop the Indian batting. The pitch doesn’t have anything in it for fast bowlers but left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj will definitely find some purchase.

13:00 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to HT’s live coverage of Day 2 of the second Test between South Africa and India at Centurion.

After toiling for more than two sessions on Saturday, India found themselves suddenly on top on the proceedings as South Africa threw away wickets in the fag end of the final session of the first day of the Test. Hashim Amla got run out on 82 and his dismissal started the late slide. Vernon Philander also ran himself out for 0 and in between those two dismissals, Quinton de Kock was out first ball to Ashwin, who took three wickets for 90 runs and was the pick of the Indian bowlers.

The late drama and South Africa’s careless end to the day have given Virat Kohli and Co. a way back into the second Test as well as the three-match series. The visitors are down 0-1 in the series after going down to SA in Cape Town.

Of course, India will now have to capitalise on the small good fortune that has come their way -- the bowlers should terminate the South African innings without conceding too many runs and then the famed Indian batting line-up should get their act together.