Virat Kohli hung firm with a solid 40 as South Africa’s bowlers made inroads in the second session on day 1 of the deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
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Virat Kohli withstood the barrage and discipline of the South Africa pace bowlers to hold firm. At the other end, the Indian batting floundered against the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi’s discipline. For the last five-six years, no one would have seen Kohli battle hard for 40 runs. But, this knock could go a long way in ensuring that he breaks his two-year century drought. Kohli’s unbeaten knock helped India reach 141/4 at tea on the first day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
Having resumed at 75/2, Pujara continued to be positive and smashed a couple of boundaries to near his fifty. But, in the 38th over, Pujara suffered two lapses of judgment. He padded up to a delivery that was coming in from Marco Jansen and an LBW appeal was turned down. It was the height that saved Pujara. But, on the very next delivery, Pujara edged a delivery from Jansen that straightened straight to the keeper.
Pujara’s lean patch of not having gone past 50 to 13. Kohli held the key against a South Africa attack that was now looking to make inroads. Ajinkya Rahane started with a couple of crisp boundaries. Kohli’s battle with Rabada was a treat to cricket fans. The bowler tried his best to trouble Kohli with swinging deliveries at pace. Kohli responded with a top-edged six over fine leg. This was Kohli’s first six after 26 innings.
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However, after the drinks break, Rahane edged Rabada and even a review did not save him. Rishabh Pant played the only way that he knew and that was to take on the South Africa bowlers. He got going with two boundaries. At the other end, Kohli survived a dropped chance off Rabada as Aiden Markram failed to gather the ball at second slip. Kohli held firm and he advised Pant not to do anything foolish until after the break.
Earlier, India won the toss and chose to bat. Kohli returned while Umesh Yadav replaced Mohammed Siraj. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul looked to start off on an aggressive note. Agarwal benefited from a dropped catch by Keegan Petersen off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada. There was plenty of movement on offer for both Rabada and Duanne Olivier. KL Rahul was getting beaten on multiple occasions. Agarwal eased the pressure with a four each off Rabada and Olivier. When Rabada had conceded two fours in his fourth over, India had raced to 31/0 in 10 overs. It seemed South Africa was going to waste the useful conditions on offer.
However, South Africa tightened the screws up. After bowling three consecutive maidens, the Indian batsmen finally made a mistake. Olivier got one delivery to bounce a bit extra from a length. KL Rahul wafted at the ball to edge it to the keeper. His dismissal for 12 got South Africa right back in the game. In the very next over bowled by Rabada, Agarwal nicked a full ball and the edge flew to second slip where Aiden Markram took the catch.
For 15 balls, Virat Kohli had a bit of trouble in settling in on the pitch that had seam and swing movement. But, he got off the mark in grand style with a drive through the covers off Marco Jansen. Pujara also showed some positive intent to ensure the runs kept coming. On the other hand, Kohli was troubled by the movement especially by Jansen but he held on.
As the session neared the close, Pujara and Kohli unfurled some good shots and at the lunch break, India was 75/2.
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