India were bowled out for 223 in the first innings of third Test at Newlands against South Africa on Tuesday. After winning the toss, skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat first but his decision went a bit haywire when openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal returned back to the pavilion early.
But Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli steadied the ship for the side and didn’t let any further fall of wickets in the first session.
While Pujara punished the bad deliveries, Kohli showed a lot more patience especially around that outside off stump channel. Pujara was eventually undone for a well-compiled 43 by Jansen, courtesy a brilliant ball that just moved away from the right-hander a bit after pitching on the off stump line and took the outside edge.
Verreynne completed the catch behind the stumps. Kohli was then joined in by Ajinkya Rahane who wasn’t really able to make much of a contribution and was removed for 9 by Kagiso Rabada.
India were on the back foot after losing two wickets but captain Kohli and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant provided the resistance and 51-run stand for the fifth wicket.
But Pant’s dismissal for 27 broke the shackles and India began to lose wickets at regular intervals. Kohli was the lone warrior for the visitors after he notched up 79 in 201 deliveries. For South Africa it was Rabada who scalped a four-fer while Janesan picked up three wickets.