Pacers keep up pressure as South Africa reeling at 136 for 6 at lunch
Pune: Mohammed Shami's hostile morning spell and an acrobatic catch by Wriddhiman Saha were the highlights of the first session as India reduced South Africa to 136 for six at lunch on the third day of the second Test, here on Saturday.
South Africa's most experienced pair of skipper Faf du Plessis (52 batting off 76 balls) and Quinton de Kock (31 off 48 balls) were trying to resurrect the innings with a quick stand of 75 runs but Ravichandran Ashwin (1/28 in 8 overs) removed the latter to make matters worse.
Shami (2/28 in 10 overs) bowled with a lot of fire during the session while Umesh Yadav's (3/27 in 8 overs) third wicket of the innings primarily belongs to Saha, who once again proved why he is rated as the best in the world.
On a pitch where Indian batsmen looked at ease, it was an every moment struggle for the Proteas batsmen. Shami was getting the semi new-ball to dart back in after pitching while Yadav was primarily bowling outswingers. Nightwatchman Anrich Nortje (4) was uncomfortable from the start as Virat Kohli set an attacking field that included four slips and a gully.
Shami got deliveries to rear up from the length and one such delivery was awkwardly fended by Nortje and skipper Kohli at fourth slip took a smart catch diving to his right. Theunis de Bruyn (30) hit a couple of cover drives but it was a moment of inspiration from Saha that brought about his end.
Trying an expansive drive off Yadav, De Bruyn's hard flash was flying towards first slip and an aerial Saha plucked it off thin air leaving South Africa tottering at 53 for 5.
However, Du Plessis and De Kock batted positively punishing the loose balls and didn't look in much trouble like the earlier batsmen. Du Plessis had nine hits to the fence including one maximum, while De Kock hit seven boundaries.
It was Ashwin, who removed De Kock with a classical off-break that pitched on the middle and the southpaw was squared up and beaten trying to play for the turn with bails clipped.
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Family of five from Bengaluru killed in road accident in Andhra
Palamaneru (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Five members of a family from Bengaluru died on the spot after the car in which they were travelling to Tirupati rammed into a stationary truck in Chittoor district on Wednesday, a police official said.
The deceased included three women, and the accident occurred on the four-lane highway near Palamaneru at around 8.45 am on Wednesday, police said.
"Five members of a family travelling from Bengaluru to Tirupati were killed on the spot when their car rammed into a stationary truck near Palamaneru," the official told PTI.
According to police, the accident is suspected to have occurred due to overspeeding and the driver possibly feeling sleepy.
Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased have been informed and are on their way to the accident site, the official added.
