The South African team jumped in delight in the 73rd over of the first innings of the third Test in Cape Town. India skipper Virat Kohli had finally edged one outside the off-stump channel off Kagiso Rabada to give an easy catch to Kyle Verreynne while he was on 79.
The Proteas had finally got the “BIG WICKET” of someone who had frustrated them the whole day. The right-hander had come out to bat in the first session itself after openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul had been sent back to the pavilion early.
Kohli and Pujara then came in for the rescue. While Pujara didn’t shy away from putting away the bad deliveries, Kohli played in a very cautious manner. The South African bowlers did try to extract something out of that corridor of uncertainty against Kohli but he was pretty determined to leave a mark.
Barring a couple of hiccups where he edged one which didn’t carry to the fielder in the slips or a caught behind appeal on the delivery that was going down the leg side which was eventually turned down, the right-hander didn’t let the bowlers dominate him.
Pujara & Kohli resist
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli looked pretty comfortable in the middle and the two had stitched a stand of 62 runs for the third wicket when a brilliant delivery from Marco Jansen who was bowling round the wicket to Pujara sent the right-hander packing for 43.
The delivery that was pitched on the off-stump channel just moved away from Pujara a bit and took the outside edge of the batsman’s willow and Verreynne completed an easy catch behind the stumps.
The well-compiled stand was finally broken and India were now 95/3.
Ajinkya Rahane’s struggle continues
The Indian fans took a sigh of relief when Rahane and Pujara were among the runs in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa. But Rahane once again faltered in the first innings of this third Test. The former Test vice-captain’s stay at the crease was a very short one, courtesy a peach of a delivery from Kagiso Rabada that was bowled touch short and came into the right-hander quickly taking the outside edge of the bat. Verreynne had another catch to add to his tally.
Kohli & Pant steady the ship
India were in a spot of bother and the side was struggling at 116/4 when Rishabh Pant walked in the middle and joined Kohli. The left-right batting duo stitched a partnership of 51 runs for the fifth wicket before Pant was undone by Jansen for 27.
The Collapse
Rishabh Pant’s dismissal certainly broke the shackles and India began to lose wickets at regular intervals. Kohli was the lone warrior who tried to hold the fort at one end but was eventually out and India were bundled out for 223 in the first innings. Rabada had four wickets to his name while Jansen had three during the course.
India get important breakthrough
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on song as he bowled four maidens before the end of first day’s play and also scalped an important wicket of Dean Elgar who was out for 3. The hosts ended Day 1 at 17/1, trailing by 206 runs.