JOHANNESBURG:
Shardul Thakur had spotted a crack in between back of length to good length area and was trying to hit that region to get the ball back into the right hander.
Thakur’s maiden five-wicket haul put India in pole position after the second day as they restricted South Africa’s first innings lead to only 27 and then finished the day at 85 for 2.
“When I started bowling, there was a length somewhere in those 22-yards from where the ball was kicking in (off) and also was staying low a bit. So all I did was to try to hit that spot and hit that crack,” added the pacer, who hails from Palghar region near Mumbai.
The key was to hit the right areas as both Centurion and Johannesburg tracks offered help for fast bowlers.
“See both the venues, even when we played in Centurion and here in Joburg (Johannesburg) at the Wanderers, there is and there was some help in the pitch, so all you had to do is keep coming hard at the batsman and bowl in the right spots, I was trying to do the same,” Thakur said.
Seamer reckons match-situation is tricky
Thakur said that India still can’t be termed favourites to win the match.
“The current match-situation, if you see it’s tricky. The lead that we take from here and the bigger the target we set that is good, because as the game progresses and we all know that last two days, it is not that easy to bat on the pitch.
“So, from our team’s point of view, the bigger target we set, and take the game long, that is good, because there is a lot of time left in the game.”
“Best is yet to come”
He may have recorded his best ever figures in all forms of red ball cricket with his superb 7 for 61 against South Africa but the Mumbai speedster is confident that he can better his personal best.
“It is my best figure, but the best is always yet to come, I would say,” quipped Shardul.
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In Pics: Shardul Thakur’s seven-wicket haul keeps India on track for Test series win in South Africa
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<p>A career-best performance by Shardul Thakur enabled India to fight back on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Tuesday. Thakur took seven for 61 – the best figures by an Indian bowler in Tests against South Africa – as the hosts were bowled out for 229, a first innings lead of 27. (ANI Photo)</p>
<p>India reached 85 for two at the close, an overall lead of 58 runs, to finish the day on level terms and keep alive their hopes of clinching a series victory with a match to spare. (AFP Photo)</p>
<p>South Africa played themselves into a strong position by bowling out India for 202 on the first day and then advancing to 88 for the loss of one wicket half an hour before lunch. (AFP Photo)</p>
<p>Thakur, bowling at a brisk medium pace on a responsive pitch, broke South Africa’s only two partnerships of note. He dismissed Dean Elgar (28) and Keegan Petersen (62) after the pair put on 74 for the second wicket. He followed up by having Rassie van der Dussen caught behind for one, although replays shown during the lunch interval suggested wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant may have taken the ball on the bounce. (AP Photo)</p>
<p>Temba Bavuma (51) and Kyle Verreynne (21) added 60 for the sixth wicket before Thakur trapped Verreynne leg before wicket and had Bavuma caught down the leg side by Pant. Thakur then ended some tail-end resistance by taking the last two wickets off successive balls. (Reuters Photo)</p>
<p>Thakur, 30, played a relatively minor supporting role in India’s 113-run win in the first Test in Centurion but rose to the challenge of added responsibility caused by an injury to Mohammed Siraj. (AFP Photo)</p>
<p>Siraj left the field clutching his right hamstring shortly before the close on Monday. He returned to action on Tuesday but only bowled six overs during the day and appeared to be below his best. (AFP Photo)</p>
<p>Thakur’s best in five previous Tests was four for 61 when a spate of injuries to Indian players provided him an opportunity to play a starring role in a series-clinching win against Australia in Brisbane last January. He took a total of seven wickets in the match and also top-scored with 67 in the first innings. (Reuters Photo)</p>
<p>Indian batsmen came out with attacking intent in the second innings but left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen had stand-in captain KL Rahul caught at third slip for eight with his fifth ball of the innings when he came on as second change. (AP Photo)</p>
<p>Mayank Agarwal padded up to Duanne Olivier and was palpably leg before wicket after scoring 23. Cheteshwar Pujara (35 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (11 not out), both under pressure because of lack of recent form, added 41 unbeaten runs before the close. (AP Photo)</p>
Indebted to Dinesh Lad
He once again spoke about his childhood coach Dinesh Lad’s contribution in his growth as a player. Shardul during his school days had stayed at the Lad residence as it was difficult to travel from Palghar to Borivali every day.
“Yes, obviously he (Dinesh Lad) had a lot of impact in my cricketing career and he is a second parent to me. He spotted me when no one else did and he provided that exposure, offering me an admission in the school (Swami Vivekanand International) in Borivali and since then my life has changed,” said Shardul of his coach Dinesh Lad.
