IND vs SA, 2nd Test, Day 3 Lunch: Ashwin Dismantles South Africa After Follow-On; Trail by 252

It was first time in cricketing history that India enforced a follow-on on South Africa. They also became the first team to enforce a follow-on on South Africa after 2008

The fourth day of the ongoing second Test in Pune began with India enforcing a follow-on on South Africa. Trailing by 326 runs, the Proteas lost 4 of their top-order batsmen with a score of 74 runs. At lunch, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma were at the crease, still, 252 runs behind. It was first time in cricketing history that India enforced a follow-on on South Africa. They also became the first team to enforce a follow-on on South Africa after 2008. With another chance to save the pride, Proteas openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram took the field but Kohli & Co had different plans. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma began the destruction and then Ashwin joined the force. Markram was trapped in the front by Ishant, right on the second ball of the day. The former was dismissed for a 2-ball duck while Theunis de Bruyn was caught by Saha off Umesh’s delivery in the sixth over. Skipper Faf du Plessis tried to anchor the innings thereafter and stitched a 49-run stand with Elgar. Before they could convert it into something bigger, Ashwin marked his presence with a quicker delivery and Saha took the catch after juggling the ball at least thrice. The Proteas were reduced to 70/3. They could garner just 1 run in the next 10 balls until Ashwin chipped in again and got rid of Elgar who was nearing his fifty. Umesh ran to his right from wide mid-off to complete the juggling catch and India got a major breakthrough. Earlier, the Virat-Kolhi led side enforced the follow-on on day four of the second Test. They had the lead of 326 runs in the first innings and as a result, skipper Kohli decided to ask South Africa to bat again. On day three of the match, South Africa was bowled out for 275 runs. No top-order batsman could manage to stay at the crease for a long time for the Proteas. Tailenders Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj put up a 109-run stand to frustrate the Indian bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up four wickets for India and he finished the innings as the leading wicket-taker for the side.