Ind vs SA: Pacers restrict South Africa after du Plessis resistance, visitors need 287 to win

Indian pacers lifted their game when needed to keep India in hunt in the all-important second test match in Centurion on Tuesday. 

South Africa resumed after 230/7 after tea break. But Indian bowlers ensured that the lead doesn't extend too much as the hosts were all out for 258 setting a target of 287 for Indians to draw level in the test match. Shami got the break though dismissing Rabada before Bumrah got rid of captain du Plessis who scored a crucial 48, which may turn out to be a match winning knock eventually. Bumrah took 2, Ishant 3 and Shami was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 49 including key wickets of Elgar and de Villiers. 

The previous record chase in Pretoria was 251 for eight by England in 2000, but that was on a fresh wicket after both sides forfeited innings to force a result.

South Africa had resumed on 173 for five after lunch as Du Plessis and Vernon Philander (26) compiled a sixth wicket partnership of 46 from 26 overs, before the latter lost his patience and attempted a hook off Sharma  that picked out Murali Vijay at mid-wicket. Keshav Maharaj (6) became Sharma's second victim in the session when he edged to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel having failed to get in line to a ball that bounced steeply.

The slow scoring rate was in contrast to some brisk shot-making in the morning session, despite an excellent spell of bowling from seamer Mohammed Shami. AB de Villiers reached 80 before a rising delivery from Shami conjured an edge to Patal. He had put on 141 for the third wicket with opener Dean Elgar, who rode his luck to a half-century before he found Lokesh Rahul in the deep with a well-timed pull shot off Shami and was gone for 61. Quinton de Kock (12) looked completely out of sorts and after edging three balls in a row past the slips for four, his luck ran out and he brushed a Shami delivery to Patel. 

With Reuters inputs