Opener KL Rahul produced a majestic knock in test conditions en route to his sixth century overseas as India made a near perfect start to the test series against South Africa, at Centurion on Sunday. Rahul (122 at bat off 248), along with opener partner Mayank Agarwal (60), set up a strong platform for India with a score of 117, which allowed the visitors to reach 272 for three at stumps. Skipper Virat Kohli (35 out of 94) fell with a loose shot after doing all the hard work, while Cheteshwar Pujara kept only one ball under pressure. Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane (40 at bats off 81), who like Pujara is fighting to save his place in the team, were in the center at the end of the game.
Rahane looked good and will aim for a big score on day two. Aside from Lungi Ngidi, who took all the wickets for the day to fall, the South African pacers were not up to par in their line and lengths and offered too many loose balls.
The day was for Rahul, who showed remarkable determination and application during his seventh Test hundred. He reached the three-digit mark in England earlier this year and has also scored a hundred in every country he has played in. Just as he had done in England alongside Rohit Sharma, Rahul played with absolute clarity, knowing which balls to leave and which to go for his shots. His friend and Karnataka teammate Agarwal also made things easier for Rahul early on by being the aggressor in the partnership.
In the end, Rahul collected 16 fours and a six. His innings had all his attractive streak of shots, including the cover runs and his back foot punch. He reached the 90s with a six-off spinner Keshav Maharaj and stayed there for a while before hitting the milestone with a soft control of the left arm bowler through the point. He also shared a crucial 82-run tie with Kohli after Ngidi cleared Agarwal and Pujara from consecutive deliveries.
The India skipper was the only wicket to fall in the evening session and that was rather a gift to struggling South Africa. Kohli went for an extended drive from a very wide ball, something he didn’t need with India in a dominant position.
Previously, South Africa fought back by a few wickets in the afternoon session via Ngidi, but India still controlled the proceedings by reaching 157 for two at tea.
India scored 74 runs in the second session, while Ngidi cleared Agarwal and Pujara from consecutive balls to give the hosts some much-needed breakthroughs.
Agarwal, who came to his half-century after lunch, was sent away against the turn of events.
The ball appeared to bounce over the wicket apart from missing the leg stump, but the on-field decision was reversed when DRS revealed he hit the wickets, leaving Agarwal in disbelief.
His fall also ended a memorable partnership, leaving Rahul and Agarwal only the third Indian opening pair to last a century in 21 games in South Africa.
As the sun came up, Pujara walked in and the first ball was sent away, shoving a short-leg defensive shot to Keegan Petersen. Soon after, Rahul raised his fifty with a delightful cover drive at Ngidi.
In the morning session, Agarwal and Rahul played with the required discipline in test conditions to bring India to 83 without a loss.
Kohli made a brave call to bat first on a greenish surface that is expected to get faster as the game progresses. Agarwal drove Ngidi through the run for the first four innings. Rahul, who needed 21 balls to get off the goal, played a superb straight drive from Kagiso Rabada to get going.
Debut left-armer Jansen got off to a nervous start to his career with Agarwal sending him off before three-four in his opening over.
The six foot bowler’s first ball in Test cricket was a soft full throw which Agarwal duly sent through the cover point. Then the lanky pacemaker threw a few into the pads which were sharply swept away.
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The South African pacesetters bowled just a little too short in the first hour. The Dean Elgar-led side also wasted a review early in the session.
The only chance South Africa got was begging with a diving Quinton de Kock who dropped Agarwal off at Jansen. He hit 36 at the time.
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