Ishant & Co. bring India back into the game, SA 213/6

Johannesburg: After India lost five wickets for just 25 runs to be bundled out for 280 in their first innings, their pacers bowled brilliantly to leave the hosts tottering at 213 for six at close of second day here on Thursday.

When it looked as if the hosts would pile up a big score, cruising along comfortably at 130 for one, Ishant Sharma (3/64) triggered the shocking batting collapse by dismissing Hashim Amla (36) and Jaques Kallis (0) off consecutive deliveries before Zaheer Khan got rid of captain Graeme Smith (68) -- all three wickets falling without a single run being added.

Mohammed Shami too came in for party as he took the wicket of J P Duminy (2) and A B De Villers (13) in the same over to bring the Indians back into the game. From 130 for one, the Proteas were suddenly struggling at 146 for six, losing five wickets in the span of 16 runs.

The Proteas, however, recovered as Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander added 67 runs for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand as Indian bowlers went wicketless for the last 21.3 overs. Philander and du Plessis were batting on 48 and 17 respectively.

Earlier starting at their overnight score, Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane looked to build on the platform provided by Virat Kohli's hundred but Dhoni was out for 19 runs off Morkel. He faced 72 balls and hit three fours.

In the very next over, Philander took the wicket of Rahane as he made 47 runs, adding only five to his overnight score. He faced 137 balls and hit eight fours in his long stay at the wicket.

Philander then trapped Zaheer Khan (first-ball-duck) plumb off his next ball, and although Ishant denied him a hat-trick, he was bowled in the 102nd over for an 11-ball duck. Morkel then bowled Shami (0), finishing off the visitors' first innings.