South Africa hold the upper hand going into the second day
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
South Africa’s bowling attack worked as a cohesive unit and carved through India’s batting line-up to bowl them out for 187 on the opening day of the third Test in Johannesburg.
Choosing to bat first, India got off to an awful start as they lost opener Lokesh Rahul in the fourth over when he was caught behind off the bowling of Vernon Philander for a duck.
Rahul’s opening partner, Murali Vijay, only scored eight runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada.
India captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara stabilised the innings with an 84-run partnership, during which Kohli brought up his half-century after being dropped on 11 by Philander off the bowling of Rabada and on 32 by AB de Villiers at second slip off the bowling of Morne Morkel.
Virat Kohli scored his 16th Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
However, he was unable to make the most of his fifty as he was caught by De Villiers at third slip off the bowling of Lungi Ngidi for 54, which came off 106 balls and included nine boundaries.
Ajinkya Rahane failed to have an impact with the bat as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Morkel for nine runs.
Rahane opted to review the decision, but it didn’t save him as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and clipping leg stump.
Pujara, who got off the mark on the 54th ball he faced, went on to score 50 off 179 deliveries, which included eight boundaries, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo.
Cheteshwar Pujara struck his 17th half-century in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Parthiv Patel only made two runs, while Hardik Pandya failed to trouble the scorers as he was caught behind off the bowling of Phehlukwayo.
Mohammed Shami mustered eight runs before being caught by Rabada at mid-off off the bowling of Philander.
Ishant Sharma fell shortly after, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar frustrated the Proteas with a gutsy 30 before he was finally caught by Phehlukwayo off the bowling of Rabada.
Thanks to Kumar, India managed to make 187 before being bowled out.
Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Philander, Morkel and Phehlukwayo snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Ngidi, he chipped in with one wicket.
Trailing by 187 runs, South Africa were dealt an early blow as opening batsman Aiden Markram was caught behind off the bowling of Kumar for two runs.
Dean Elgar and Rabada, who was sent in as the nightwatchman, managed to guide the Proteas safely to stumps as they put together an unbeaten three-run partnership.
Elgar finished on four, while Rabada has yet to get off the mark.
Kumar was the only bowler to take a wicket.
South Africa ended day one on 6/1 and will continue batting on Thursday at 10:00 local time or 08:00 GMT.