Hardik Pandya Hero of Second Day

Capetown, Jan 07: All rounder Hardik Pandya starred for India with an all-round show but South Africa still managed to edge ahead ending at 65/2 and extending their lead to 142 runs on Day 2 of the first Test at Cape Town here on Saturday.

When Pandya walked in to bat the first ball after Lunch on the second day of the Newlands Test, India were 76 for 5, still 11 adrift of the follow-on mark. They slipped to 92 for 7 after five overs and seemed destined to a quick 1-0 series deficit. Vernon Philander bayed for blood. Pandya walked out of his crease and pushed without conviction off the first delivery he faced. It found the only gap in an eager slip cordon and went to the boundary.

The Baroda all-rounder fought fire with fire and his brilliant counter-attacking knock helped India, not to concede a huge first innings lead at Newlands, Cape Town. Pandya 95-ball 93 came at a stage when India were losing wickets in a heap and along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the duo added 99 runs for the eighth wicket that eventually helped the visitors cross 200 on a pitch that had a lot of seam movement.

Twitter couldn't help but applaud the effort of Pandya as he almost single-handedly kept India in the match which has been dominated by the Proteas for most part of the Test match.