The second day of the first Test between India and South Africa has been called off due to heavy, persistent rain in Centurion.
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The second day of the first Test between India and South Africa was called off without a ball bowled due to heavy and persistent rain. The forecast for Centurion was heavy rain on day 2 and it proved to be true. However, the weather is expected to be fine for days three and four. It was a wet beginning on day 2, with the rain pelting down in Centurion ever since last night. The rain was persistent and for some time, it had cleared. However, just as hopes rose, the weather once again intervened and frustrated India and South Africa.
After an hour, the rain eased up and it became clear. However, the ground staff had to work around the clock to ensure that the outfield was fine for the game to resume. After 45 minutes, it seemed an inspection would take place but the rain once again arrived. India and South Africa decided to take an early lunch.
The rain once again eased but both teams could not get going. The next hour saw heavy rain pelting Centurion which did not relent. There were pools of water on the outfield which further increased the prospects of no play. After waiting for two hours, the BCCI stated that play was called off for the day.
India might not have had much luck in the past while playing South Africa away but they are certainly in total control after Day 1 of the first Test being played between the two countries. Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first, scoring 272 runs for the loss of three wickets at the end of the day’s play. Newly appointed vice-captain of the Indian Test side, KL Rahul, played a dream knock as he remained unbeaten on a mammoth 122 runs. Former vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was with him at the crease, scoring 40 runs off 81 deliveries.
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Rahul, along with his childhood friend Mayank Agarwal, opened the innings for the visitors. The vice-captain scored 122 runs off 248 deliveries, hitting 17 boundaries and one maximum in the process. It was a knock that showed exactly how talented and dynamic the former Punjab Kings skipper is with the bat. He played shots all around the park and dealt comfortably with most of the deliveries.
Mayank played a fine knock himself as the duo constructed a 117-run partnership for the first wicket. He scored 60 runs off 123 deliveries in a knock that included nine boundaries. Cheteshwar Pujara was disappointing on the day as he was dismissed for nought on the first ball while skipper Kohli could only manage to score 35 runs off 94 deliveries.
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been under a lot of criticism of late, did a fairly decent job on the day. He scored an unbeaten 40 runs off 81 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries in the process. The former vice-captain will be hoping that he can turn his start into a big score on the second day.
