An early ‘stumps’ call was forced due to the bad light on the second successive day of the ongoing first Test of the two-match series between South Africa and India. Both teams are playing this match at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The hosts South Africa ended up the day 2 in a commanding position against the visitors.
The Proteas scored 256 runs for the loss of 5 wickets at the end of day 2 with a lead of 11 runs in the first innings, having the centurion Dean Elgar and pace-bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen there in the middle. Dean Elgar scored an amazing century, which is also his Test career’s 14th Test century. Notably, Elgar is appearing in his last Test series as the 36-year-old already announced his retirement from international cricket after the end of the ongoing series against India.
Dean Elgar puts South Africa in the driving seat at the end of day 2
The veteran opener scored 140 runs at the end of day 2, hitting 23 fours, alongside debutant David Bedingham’s 56-run knock. However, South Africa faced an early blow in the first innings as they lost their first wicket just at the score of 11 runs in the fourth over. But then came an amazing partnership of 93 runs for the second wicket between the veteran opener Dean Elgar and the young number 3 batter Tony de Zorzi.
Later, another amazing partnership of 131 runs for the fourth wicket between Dean Elgar and David Bedingham. Star Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and his bowling partner Mohammed Sira scalped 2 wickets each for India on day 2. Besides these two, India’s debutant pacer Prasidh Krishna also picked one wicket as he got Proteas wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreyne caught behind the wickets by KL Rahul.
Earlier on day 2, India started from the first day’s score of 208 runs for the loss of 8 wickets; the first day’s unbeaten wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul scored his century adding a quick 30 runs to his score of 70 runs. His knock helped India to post a respectable total of 245 runs in the first innings. Other than him, former skipper Virat Kohli and star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer also contributed with knocks of 38 and 31 runs, respectively.
Here’s how fans reacted after the end of day 2 of the Centurion Test:
Kabhi Bad light
— shreyas iyer (parody) (@shreyas_iyerkkr) December 27, 2023
Kabhi Rain 😭 pic.twitter.com/OZ3d01LNUo
Great comeback by Africans
— Dr Bakra (@DrBakra) December 27, 2023
Well played South Africa💚
— ᗷΙᏕⱮΑ🌸 (@bi_smah_) December 27, 2023
SA -256 /6
— Shivam Sopori🇮🇳 (@shivamsopori) December 27, 2023
Early stumps called on DAY 2 also .
Bad light.
An innings to remember for Dean Elgar 136* on 199 balls.
Irfan Pathan @IrfanPathan during commentary said - Dean Elgar batted like DEAN of a college😁
🔥@CricCrazyJohns pic.twitter.com/mtKuJn71mC
Quality bowling by siraj & bumrah
— Rabia jan (@ikpromax) December 27, 2023
South africa still can have a lead from here, india good luck
— Hassan. (@Heyitshassan) December 27, 2023
Both team are in 50/ 50 % conditions
— Babar badshah👑🇵🇰 (@MeharTaha104) December 27, 2023
Tough day for Indian bowler, India need to wrap up south african batting under 50 runs more else match is going too far from India hand
— Kirkett (@bhaskar_sanu08) December 27, 2023
SA probability is more now
— Waheed Malik (@waheed__malik) December 27, 2023
Great come back🔥
— Salman (@Mani33143) December 27, 2023