Wanderers Test PHOTOS: India fight back to take Day Two honours

South Africa were 213 for six at stumps on day two of the first Test against India at the New Wanderers (Johannesburg) on Thursday.

The hosts still trail the visitors by 67 runs in the first innings. 

- Scorecard

The Proteas slipped from a commanding 130 for one to 146 for six in reply to India's total of 280 before an unbeaten partnership of 67 between Vernon Philander (48 not out) and Faf du Plessis (17 not out) steadied the innings.

Ishant Sharma (three for 64) and Mohammed Shami (two for 48) were the chief destroyers in a brilliant spell of fast bowling after tea.

The day should have been better for India as well after Rohit Sharma dropped a simple chance off Du Plessis (on 17) at second slip off the bowling of Shami with 10 minutes of play remaining.

Earlier, India lost their last five wickets for 16 runs in the morning session to be bundled out for 280 in their first innings.

Philander finished with figures of four for 61 from 27 overs.

Philander first had Rahane (47) caught behind and then trapped Zaheer Khan plumb off his next ball. Although Ishant denied him a hat-trick, he was bowled in the 102nd over for an 11-ball duck.

Morne Morkel also exceled with the ball, picking up figures of three for 34.

He first had Indian captain MS Dhoni (19) caught behind before finishing off the visitors' first innings by getting past the defenses of Mohammed Shami (0).

Despite Losing Alviro Petersen (21) early, South Africa got into the stride soon after.

Graeme Smith (68) and Hashim Amla (36) added 93 runs for the second wicket. Then the drama began and wickets started falling in a heap.

Ishant crashed through Amla's defence before trapping Jacques Kallis out leg before first ball. 

Smith, having been Ashwin (off Zaheer) at first slip when on 19, went on to complete his 38th Test fifty, his eighth against India.

However, Zaheer returned to haunt him, trapping him plumb in front. 

It was the seventh time in 10 Tests that Zaheer dismissed him, and 14th overall across all formats, with 68 being the highest Smith has managed in those 14 innings.

Mohammed Shami also played his part with the ball, removing JP Duminy (2) and AB de Villers (13) to bring the Indians back into the game.

Shami came on to bowl in the 45th over and struck with his first ball, removing Duminy caught at first slip by Murali Vijay. Two overs later, it was De Villiers walking back, out leg before.

From 130 for one, the Proteas were suddenly struggling at 146 for six. 

The home team, however, recovered some lost ground with Du Plessis and Philander stitching 67 runs for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand as Indian bowlers went wicketless for the last 21.3 overs.