South African batter Keegan Petersen reckons his team will be happy to chase down anything under 200 at the Wanderers, Johannesburg in the second Test match against India.
The visitors currently lead by 58 runs as they finished the second day’s play at 85-2. South Africa had a great opportunity to take a big first-innings lead but their batters were not able to convert their starts into substantial scores.
Thus, the Proteas could only manage a lead of 27 runs after Shardul Thakur returned with impressive figures of 7-61. Keegan Petersen scored his maiden Test fifty as he added 62 runs but he was dismissed while meddling with the outside off-stump delivery, which he could have left.
It isn’t the easiest of pitches to bat as the bounce is unpredictable and a batter is never settled at the crease. Ergo, it would be difficult for South Africa to chase anything above 200 as the batting is going to get difficult.
India has a potent bowling line-up and the pace quadrat has bowled at the top of their game. However, Mohammed Siraj is not at the top of his fitness as he pulled his hamstring on the opening day.
Speaking at a virtual press conference at the end of Day 2, Petersen said: “I think it’s going to be tough for the rest of the Test match, and the pitch is definitely not getting better. We haven’t put a number to it yet, but the more (runs) they get, the more difficult (it) is going to be for us to get.”
“It’s a difficult bowling attack to come up against. So realistically, I’d say anything under 200 would be a good total to chase. But the more they get, the further away it gets for us.”
Petersen is happy with his knock of 62 runs but he wishes he could have contributed more as he was settled at the crease.
He said: “It was good bowling this morning from a top-quality attack that kept you on your toes all the time. I’m happy, although I wish I could have done more to get the team into a better position.”
“It’s a wicket where you are never really in, so when you do get that half-century, you get some kind of sense if you’re OK now, and then you get out. I think that’s where we can be faulted, and it’s the one department we can improve on. But, nevertheless, I think it was a decent effort, given the conditions.”
India would aim to score as many runs as they can while South Africa will look to keep the lead in check. The tourists will begin the third day’s proceedings at 85-2.
