2nd Test, Day 3: India in trouble at 102/4 as Jaiswal, Sudharsan go back in quick succession

Yashasvi Jaiswal was done in by a ball that bounced while poor shots from Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel left India struggling at 102 for 4 against South Africa at tea on the third day of the second Test here on Monday.

India were cruising along at 95 for 1 but a combination of freak deliveries and questionable shot selection saw them losing three wickets for seven runs in the first session.

Jaiswal (58 off 97 balls) hit a stroke-filled half-century before a ball from Simon Harmer jumped from length, catching him unawares. The southpaw tried to check his drive and it turned into a jab for Marco Jansen to complete a fine tumbling catch.

KL Rahul (22) also looked solid during the opening stand of 65 with Jaiswal as the duo was hardly bothered by the South Africans.

But there were two deliveries—one each from Keshav Maharaj (1/29 in 9 overs) and Harmer (2/39 in 11 overs) — that completely changed the course of the morning session.

The pitch didn’t have too many demons and Jaiswal’s attractive stroke-play only vindicated that as he repeatedly swept Harmer from length and also lifted Maharaj over cow corner for a six.

Even Rahul looked solid at the other end, having started with a flowing cover drive but Maharaj went wide off the crease, got one to jump from length drawing the batter forward and it turned enough to take the outside edge of his bat into the hands of Aiden Markram at first slip.

However, it was Sai Sudharsan who once again showed his problems of going onto the back foot against spinners and perishing in the process.

Just like in Ahmedabad against West Indies, he once again went into back foot to pull Harmer and didn’t get any elevation with Ryan Rickleton taking a diving catch at mid-wicket.

But Dhruv Jurel (0) would hear not so great words from the dressing room as he didn’t need to go for a pull against Jansen just when tea was around the corner.

The ball didn’t come at the pace he expected and the mistimed pull was taken by Maharaj.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 1^st Innings: 489

India 1^st Innings: 102 for 4 in 36 overs (KL Rahul 22, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Simon Harmer 2/39).