New Delhi:
If the first day belonged to Rohit Sharma, then the second day belonged to Mayank Agarwal and he stole the show with some audacious strokeplay. Rohit notched up his second 150+ score while Agarwal blasted his maiden ton. The South African bowlers were clueless and they continued to leak runs. Agarwal shared a 50-run stand with Virat Kohli but the Indian skipper fell cheaply. The spinners got plenty of assistance but Agarwal notched up his maiden double century. India have crossed 500 and declared at 502/7. In response, Ravichandran Ashwin got two wickets and Ravindra Jadeja got the wicket of Dane Piedt as India ended the day on top.
17:19 hrs IST: That is stumps on day 2 and India are on top. South Africa are 39/3 and they face a massive task in the coming days.
17:12 hrs IST: DROPPED! That would have been catastrophic for South Africa. Temba Bavuma flicks this quicker delivery to short leg but it goes very quickly to Hanuma Vihari who cannot hold on. Only two overs remain and South Africa are 34/3.
17:11 hrs IST: WICKET! Jadeja now into the action. The quicker delivery drifts in and Dane Piedt plays down the wrong line to get cleaned up. South Africa are 34/3 and in massive trouble.
17:08 hrs IST: WICKET! Brilliant from Ashwin. This delivery dips on that uncertain length and Theunis de Bruyn is unsure whether to defend or play it, he goes for the drive and the inside edge is taken by Wriddhiman Saha. South Africa are 31/2.
17:03 hrs IST: The extra half an hour has been taken to get the overs done with. Only four overs remain in the day. India will be eyeing wickets. South Africa 31/1.
16:47 hrs IST: Dean Elgar smashes a six straight down the ground off Ravindra Jadeja. South Africa are 20/1.
16:35 hrs IST: WICKET! Brilliant ball from Ashwin. Spin, dip and loop. The three key ingredients to an offspinner's wicket. Flighted delivery given a bit more loop, it dips and spins in and Markram is castled. South Africa are 14/1.
16:26 hrs IST: Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are operating in tandem. So far, they have missed their lengths but this pitch is tailor-made for their skills. South Africa 13/0.
16:20 hrs IST: Poor end to the over from Ishant as Elgar glances a full ball on leg stumo to the fine leg boundary. South Africa are 8/0. Spin introduced and R Ashwin will come on.
16:11 hrs IST: Ishant Sharma opens the bowling and it is surprising that spin has not been introduced on this wicket. Dean Elgar gets off the mark with a boundary. Mohammed Shami at the other end. South Africa are 4/0.
15:55 hrs IST: India have reached 500 and one feels the declaration could be anytime now. India could get a short burst of 10-12 overs light permitting. India are 502/7 and they have declared
15:50 hrs IST: The spinners are getting plenty of assistance. Jadeja and Ashwin, who are out in the middle, will be really looking forward to bowl on this deck. India are 498/7. Kohli is out on the balcony and the declaration might come soon.
15:41 hrs IST: WICKET! After hitting a streaky boundary, Saha pulls a short ball from Dane Piedt to the deep square leg fence and India lose their seventh. India are 494/7.
15:39 hrs IST: Jadeja and Saha are building a solid partnership as India near 500. India are 489/6.
15:32 hrs IST: Jadeja slams a six and South Africa do not help themselves ith four byes. India are 478/6.
15:25 hrs IST: Wriddhiman Saha gets going with two boundaries off Vernon Philander and India are 466/6. Looks like the declaration will not be immediate as Ravichandran Ashwin is also padded up.
15:16 hrs IST: WICKET! Hanuma Vihari's first game at home is not a happy one as he holes out to long off and Keshav Maharaj gets his third. India are 457/6. Will they declare in the next few minutes?
14:44 hrs IST: Tea on day 2 and India are firmly on top. Mayank Agarwal's 215 has helped India reach 450/5. A declaration is not too far away.
14:26 hrs IST: WICKET! Agarwal's epic knock has ended and he gets a big round of congratulations from the South Africans. A full toss from Dean Elgar and he thumps it to midwicket only for Dane Piedt to run in and take a great catch. India are 436/5.
14:25 hrs IST: WICKET! Maharaj gets the wicket of Rahane and Agarwal is making great progress. Ravindra Jadeja is in and he will be looking for some quick runs.
14:11 hrs IST: Brilliant stuff from Mayank Agarwal as he notches up his maiden double century with a drive to long off for a couple. Sublime stuff from Agarwal and he has capitalised on this opportunity with both hands. What a knock. India are 419/3
13:49 hrs IST: Agarwal blasts his fifth six and it is a straight one off Keshav Maharaj. India have crossed 400 and they are 406/3.
13:21 hrs IST: WICKET! What a dream wicket for Senuran Muthusamy. He gets this delivery to spin away and stop on Kohli who ends up chipping it back to the bowler. India are 377/3. Muthusamy will remember this for a long time.
13:19 hrs IST: Agarwal is raising the tempo and he targets Maharaj. He blasts a four and a six and nears 200. India are 377/2.
13:11 hrs IST: Kohli creams an overpitched delivery from Rabada to the deep extra cover fence. South Africa still do not have answers and India are 362/2.
13:01 hrs IST: Agarwal paddle sweeps Maharaj to the fine leg fence and the left-arm spinner continues to leak runs. India are 358/2.
12:52 hrs IST: Mayank Agarwal smashes 150 and India continue to march on. The agony is only increasing for South Africa. India are 352/2.
12:36 hrs IST: Kohli finds yet another boundary, this time by pulling Kagiso Rabada to the deep backward square leg fence. India are 338/2.
12:28 hrs IST: Virat Kohli gets going with a brilliant straight drive to the long off boundary and the Vizag crowd erupt. India are 332/2.
12:24 hrs IST: Virat Kohli has still not gotten off the mark but Agarwal drives a full ball from Kagiso Rabada to the deep extra cover fence for a boundary. Superb placement and India are 328/2.
12:17 hrs IST: WICKET! What a start for South Africa after the break. Brilliant ball from Philander and Pujara has to make the walk back. Full ball and it nips awat late, Pujara is squared up and the ball detonates the off stump out of the ground. Pujara out for 6 and India are 324/2.
12:10 hrs IST: We are back for the post lunch session. What will be India's intent after the break? Will they eye 450 or will South Africa chip away. The pitch is starting to take spin. India are resuming at 324/1.
11:21 hrs IST: The second new ball has been taken and Vernon Philander will open with it. Not much of swing in the air. Nothing from the wicket. India are 323/1.
11:15 hrs IST: Cheteshwar Pujara gets going with a boundary off the first ball and India are 323/1.
11:06 hrs IST: WICKET! Finally, South Africa have taken a wicket. After hitting a six and a four, Rohit is beaten by a delivery from Keshav Maharaj that spins away sharply and draws him out of the crease. Quinton de Kock whips the bails off in a flash and India are 317/1. What an opening stand. What a knock from Rohit. He gets a deserved pat from Agarwal and the other South African players rush to congratulate him.
10:55 hrs IST: The partnership between Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma has crossed 300. This is simply been an exhibition of batting from the duo. India are 300/0.
10:52 hrs IST: South Africa simply have no answers as Rohit gets two more boundaries off Dane Piedt. The partnership is now 299 and the duo are slowly inching towards some world records. India are 299/0
10:43 hrs IST: Six and four! India have decided to launch a big assault and Agarwal is matching Rohit stroke for stroke. India are making decent progress and are 285/0.
10:39 hrs IST: Rohit nudges Muthusamy to long leg and notches up his 150, his second in his Test career. The signs are looking ominous for South Africa and Faf du Plessis is looking clueless. Agarwal and Rohit continue on their merry ways with reverse sweeps off Muthusamy and India are 274/0.
10:24 hrs IST: Rohit Sharma vlubs two fours off Maharaj and he nears 150. This is now the highest opening stand in India vs South Africa Tests, breaking the previous mark of 236 set by Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten in the 1996 Test at Kolkata. India 259/0.
10:17 hrs IST: Rohit is nearing 150 while Agarwal is looking to carry on. With Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari still waiting in the wings, this South Africa bowling is set for a day of toil. India are 248/0.
10:06 hrs IST: CENTURY! Brilliant stuff from Mayank Agarwal as he notches up his maiden century. He is absolutely emotional and he gets a big hug from Rohit. After years of slogging in domestic cricket, he finally gets his due. India are 240/0.
09:51 hrs IST: Rohit guides a flatter delivery that keeps low outside off from Keshav Maharaj to the third man fence for yet another boundary. The duo of Rohit and Agarwal now have the highest opening partnership for India in Tests vs South Africa. India are 225/0.
09:48 hrs IST: DROPPED! Quinton de Kock drops Rohit off Philander on 125. This will be a costly miss. South Africa have still not taken a wicket and this could have given them some respite. India are 219/0.
09:42 hrs IST: Agarwal steers a good length wide ball to the third man fence and he enters the 90s with a drive to deep cover. India are 213/0. However, some deliveries from Philander are keeping low.
09:38 hrs IST: Rohit gets a boundary to long leg as Vernon Philander strays onto the pads. Keshav Maharaj boowla a maiden. India are 207/0.
09:29 hrs IST: The players are all out in the middle. The sun is peeping through. Here is a chance for Rohit and Agarwal to break more records.
09:10 hrs IST: It was the Rohit Sharma show on day 1 and today, we could see some more records being broken. It is day 2 of the Vizag Test between India and South Africa. Th weather is currently overcast but there is a chance of rain later in the day. We hope that it stays away.
