Live Match: India Vs South Africa 2nd Test 3rd Day Live, Ind Vs Sa Live Score, India Vs South Africa
- 6 years ago
Live Match: India Vs South Africa 2nd Test 3rd Day Live, Ind Vs Sa Live Score, India Vs South Africa live
On a dramatic day book-ended by three drops and three wickets that promise to prove pivotal as this Test match progresses, Kohli - battling neck pain - took the fight back to South Africa with a confidence-coated 85 not out that has given India a sliver of hope, but he will rue a lack of support. Vijay's frustrated dismissal at a time when batting conditions had eased out ended a stand of 79 for the third wicket and was followed by the exits of Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel. India will need Kohli and Hardik Pandya to stage a partnership of epic proportions.
Kohli and Vijay had been joined at the crease during the second session, following the loss of two wickets in two balls. A poor shot from KL Rahul undid a watchful opening stand of 28 in the tenth over, when a leaden-footed drive bobbed back to Morne Morkel who took the offer. Cheteshwar Pujara worked the next ball towards mid-on and harried off for a single, only to be run out by the debutant Lungi Ngidi. On a surface not offering much assistance to seam or spin, those two wickets were criminal.
Kohli's positive approach - big strides forward, confident leaves and some purring drives - pushed Kagiso Rabada out of the attack and allowed Vijay to continue his solid resistance. Three of Kohli's five boundaries before tea came off Rabada, and each was pretty: a front-foot drive into the covers, a flick wide of square leg and a steer past gully. The other two came off consecutive deliveries from Morkel, one placed between mid-on and the stumps and the over past extra-cover.
Vijay was circumspect and left safely, as he had done for long periods successfully in England, Australia and South Africa earlier. He appeared assured against the fast men from the moment he took guard, and drove well into the offside and caressed through midwicket when they over-pitched.
But while Kohli appeared to have sussed out the Centurion surface - he reached his half-century in 68 balls - Vijay appeared itchy after tea. During a period in which he consciously looked to make room and push the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj off his lines, Vijay erred in judgement of the length and offered a thick edge to Quinton de Kock on 46. It was another brain fade from a solid Indian batsman on a day underlined by lapses in concentration.
Rohit, who has had a difficult time in away Tests, began with a freebie from Maharaj that he steered wide of point for four, but after managing just four more off his next 20 balls faced, he was lbw to Rabada for 10 when beaten by sharp inwards movement. It was another classic example of Rohit's front-and-across shuffle, and also wasted a review. Having managed 11 and 10 in Cape Town, Rohit appears like to be the first dropped when India's next XI is finalised.
On a dramatic day book-ended by three drops and three wickets that promise to prove pivotal as this Test match progresses, Kohli - battling neck pain - took the fight back to South Africa with a confidence-coated 85 not out that has given India a sliver of hope, but he will rue a lack of support. Vijay's frustrated dismissal at a time when batting conditions had eased out ended a stand of 79 for the third wicket and was followed by the exits of Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel. India will need Kohli and Hardik Pandya to stage a partnership of epic proportions.
Kohli and Vijay had been joined at the crease during the second session, following the loss of two wickets in two balls. A poor shot from KL Rahul undid a watchful opening stand of 28 in the tenth over, when a leaden-footed drive bobbed back to Morne Morkel who took the offer. Cheteshwar Pujara worked the next ball towards mid-on and harried off for a single, only to be run out by the debutant Lungi Ngidi. On a surface not offering much assistance to seam or spin, those two wickets were criminal.
Kohli's positive approach - big strides forward, confident leaves and some purring drives - pushed Kagiso Rabada out of the attack and allowed Vijay to continue his solid resistance. Three of Kohli's five boundaries before tea came off Rabada, and each was pretty: a front-foot drive into the covers, a flick wide of square leg and a steer past gully. The other two came off consecutive deliveries from Morkel, one placed between mid-on and the stumps and the over past extra-cover.
Vijay was circumspect and left safely, as he had done for long periods successfully in England, Australia and South Africa earlier. He appeared assured against the fast men from the moment he took guard, and drove well into the offside and caressed through midwicket when they over-pitched.
But while Kohli appeared to have sussed out the Centurion surface - he reached his half-century in 68 balls - Vijay appeared itchy after tea. During a period in which he consciously looked to make room and push the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj off his lines, Vijay erred in judgement of the length and offered a thick edge to Quinton de Kock on 46. It was another brain fade from a solid Indian batsman on a day underlined by lapses in concentration.
Rohit, who has had a difficult time in away Tests, began with a freebie from Maharaj that he steered wide of point for four, but after managing just four more off his next 20 balls faced, he was lbw to Rabada for 10 when beaten by sharp inwards movement. It was another classic example of Rohit's front-and-across shuffle, and also wasted a review. Having managed 11 and 10 in Cape Town, Rohit appears like to be the first dropped when India's next XI is finalised.