SA v IND 2018: 3rd Test, Day 1 – Kohli, Pujara fifties take India to 187 as India falter on green track vs. Proteas bowling

Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar made 30 runs and removed Markram on Day 1 of 3rd Test | AFP
 

Team India came into the Johannesburg Test looking to save some face and on Day 1, managed to dig themselves in a hole and then come out of that same hole.

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis had the same ideas of playing with 5 fast bowlers, in reality 4 quicks and 1 all-rounder each. However, Virat won the toss and decided to bat first on a green pitch that assisted movement on the pitch.

His decision to have confidence on a batting lineup that hasn’t fired apart from him backfired as Vijay (8) and Rahul (0) departed early. Cheteshwar Pujara struggled, played and missed for more than 50 balls before scoring his first run. Meanwhile Virat Kohli counter-attacked the South African bowlers and scored 54 in 106 balls with 9 fours. Pujara too hit 50 in 179 balls with 8 fours; but Rahane (9), Parthiv (2) and Pandya (0) fell and India stared at the barrel at 144/7. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (30 off 49 balls) took India to 187.

Kagiso Rabada took 3/39, Philander took 2/31, Morkel took 2/47 and Phehlukwayo picked 2/25, as Proteas bowlers bowled attackingly at the Indian batsmen and they didn’t have any answer to their prodding questions.

South Africa had 6 overs to negotiate, but Bhuvneshwar removed Markram for 2 runs, as Proteas ended day one on 6/1.

BRIEF SCORES:

INDIA 187 (V Kohli 54, C PUJARA 50; K RABADA 3/39) AND SOUTH AFRICA 6/1 (B KUMAR 1/3)
South Africa trail by 181 runs with 9 wickets remaining in the innings

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 24 Jan, 2018

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