Skipper Virat's 85 not out in India's 183 at the end of second day, chasing South Africa's first innings total of 335, is only saving grace on otherwise poor day
India captain Virat Kohli raises his bat to celebrate his half century during the second day of the Centurion Test against South Africa yesterday. PIC/AFP
Virat Kohli, almost singlehandedly kept India in the reckoning in the second Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park here yesterday. Kohli scored 85 of India's 183 first-innings runs on the second day, even as South Africa's bowlers worked their tails off to prise out five wickets at the other end. South Africa, who had done well to push their score to 335, one run more than the first-innings average at the ground, got there thanks to Faf du Plessis, the captain, who made 63, shepherding the tail well. India did themselves no favours by dropping at least three catches, all off R Ashwin, who was outstanding once more.
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Kagiso Rabada was dropped twice, once by Kohli, who went at the slip chance with hard hands and once by Pandya, who was left with little chance of grabbing the offering at point by Mohammed Shami running in from third-man. Parthiv Patel then let off Du Plessis, a crime of sorts on a pitch where you really have to bowl well and work hard to earn your wickets.
When it was India's turn to bat, KL Rahul and M Vijay began in calm and collected fashion, but only one could push on. Rahul, trying to do a bit too much too early against the pace of Morne Morkel, sent a leading edge back the bowler's way and the big man did well to take a tumbling catch. Off the very next ball, Cheteshwar Pujara committed batting suicide, hitting the ball to mid-on and setting off for a single, taking on the arm of debutant Lungi Ngidi. Pujara put the dive in, but was at least a couple of metres short when the stumps were shattered. If Pujara's dismissal was completely unnecessary, Vijay's departure was unexpected. Well set and on 46, Vijay attempted to cut the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, the ball being too full for the shot, and nicked to the wicketkeeper.
India's fourth wicket, however, was the most frustrating. Even as Kohli was going well, picking off boundaries often enough and running ones and twos with aggressive intent, Rohit Sharma got stuck at the crease and was nailed in front by Rabada, a gorgeous incoming ball following a series of away swingers that set the batsman up.
Parthiv rewarded Ngidi, tall, strong, fast and a serious prospect, with his maiden Test wicket, playing a nothing shot outside off to be caught behind by Quinton de Kock. When India ended the day, hope floated, because Kohli and Pandya were at the crease, but South Africa will know that they are only a wicket or two away from running through the batting line-up.
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