South Africa vs India 2018: Jasprit Bumrah's splendid new ball spell is SK Play of the Day
When he was initially named in the squad bound for South Africa, plenty of naysayers remained apprehensive of Jasprit Bumrah's suitability to the rigours of Test cricket. However, the 24-year old vindicated the Indian selectors' bold call with a remarkable spell on the second innings of the opening Test at Cape Town.
After going wicketless in the first innings of the ongoing second Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, the viability of his skill-set was once again placed under scrutiny. However, Bumrah reiterated his aptitude to learn quickly by producing a telling new ball spell during the third day's play. At a time when India needed early breakthroughs, he left South Africa reeling by procuring the wickets of Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla early in their second innings.
With skipper Virat Kohli's impressive 217-ball 153 cutting their first innings deficit to a mere 28 runs, the momentum had swung towards the visitors. Bumrah shored up their fortunes by reducing the Proteas to 3/2.
Dean Elgar's resilience and AB de Villiers' astute shot-selection enabled the hosts to surge ahead before a combination of rain and bad light combined to have the final say on the third day. Their unbeaten third-wicket partnership of 87 helped South Africa end the day with a propitious lead of 118 runs.
Bumrah's double blow dents South Africa
Resuming from where he left off on Sunday, Kohli continued to bat with authority on a surface which was beginning to show variable bounce. With Ravichandran Ashwin offering solid support, the Indian captain ensured that his team ended their first innings at 307.
Not surprisingly, Ashwin opened the bowling in South Africa's second innings. Even as the pitch was expected to start deteriorating and facilitating spin to a substantial extent, all eyes were on the seasoned off-spinner to make the early inroads for the visitors.
Instead of picking from the more experienced seam duo of Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, Kohli opted for Bumrah to begin proceedings from the other end. His decision was rewarded in the second ball of the second over as the right-arm seamer trapped Markram in front.
Utilising the unpredictable nature of the surface, he hit the deck hard from wider of the crease. Playing for the shorter ball, Markram's ploy of hanging on the back foot resulted in his downfall. Bumrah did not even bother to appeal and instantly began celebrating as soon as the ball thudded onto the opener's pads.
Ashwin and Bumrah maintained the pressure by string together some tight overs. Looking to force mistakes by virtue of their accuracy, they did not give the batsmen anything to work with. The seamer struck again when he removed the key wicket of Hashim Amla in the sixth over of the innings.
In what was a replica of Markram's dismissal, Amla played back to a delivery which had to be negotiated from the front foot. Upon honing in on the back of good length area, Bumrah got one to stay low and pin the veteran batsman in front of the stumps. The Proteas opted against challenging the umpire's decision in this instance too. Suddenly, they were confronted with the threat of imploding at an inopportune moment in the match.
Elgar and de Villiers stand firm
Realising that the best way to deal with the vagaries of the pitch lay in taking the attacking route, de Villiers looked positive right from the outset. Much like he did in the opening day of the Cape Town Test, the flamboyant right-hander batted in an enterprising manner to revert the pressure back on the Indians.
Having survived quite a few nervous moments against the wiles of Ashwin early in his vigil at the crease, Elgar gradually began to come into his own and consequently provided able assistance to his aggressive batting partner.
Following a brief rain interruption, the left-hander rode on his luck as Parthiv Patel missed a fairly simple chance off the bowling of Bumrah. The intelligent pacer was denied his third wicket of the innings.
While an imperious Kohli and later de Villiers put on engrossing displays of stroke-play, the third day's play had also witnessed the coming of age of a promising fast bowler testing the waters at the highest level in the game.