New Delhi

Pacer Shardul Thakur ran through the South African first innings with a seven-wicket haul as India fought back on the second day of the second Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg to take a 58-run lead.

At stumps, India were 85 for two in their second innings after Shardul’s heroics restricted the hosts to 229. Shardul ended with 7 for 61 off 17.5 overs.

South Africa resumed their first innings at 35 for 1 before Shardul removed Dean Elgar for 28 with the score at 88. Keegan Petersen was the Shardul’s next victim for his team’s top score of 61. Temba Bavuna was the only other South African player to offer some resistance with a score of 51before Shardul claimed his wicket among his seven scalps.

Mohammad Shami claimed two wickets and Jasprit Bumrah took one as the South African innings folded at 229 which gave them a lead of 27 runs.

India’s second innings did not begin promisingly as they lost stand-in captain K L Rahul for 8 with the score at 24. His opening partner Mayank  Agarwal scored 23 before he fell to Duanne Olivier with the total at 44.

Cheteshwar Pujar who scored three in the first innings and Ajinkya Rahane who was out for a duck in the first knock prevented any further damage as India closed the day at 85 for two.

 Pujara was batting on 35 and Rahane was on 11 at the draw of stumps.