Day 1, India vs SA 3rd Test: Kohli Takes India to 223; SA Trail by 206 At Stumps

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Virat Kohli drives for a boundary 

Image: ICC

Even as South Africa’s bowlers struck timely blows at one end, India captain Virat Kohli played an immensely patient knock at Newlands, getting to his half century off 158 deliveries. Kohli, who was extremely watchful, scored 79 and was the ninth wicket to fall. India were bowled out for 223 with Cheteshwar Pujara's 43 being the second highest score in the Indian lineup.

Back in to bat for a bit before stumps, South Africa lost their captain first, in the fifth over when Jasprit Bumrah had him edging to first slip, where Pujara took an easy catch. Elgar was gone for 3.

Aiden Markram (8*) and Keshav Maharaj (6*) took SA to stumps with the score at 17/1, trailing India by 206 runs.

South Africa’s bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier began the morning session of the final Test in superb fashion, bowling a good opening spell and asking plenty of questions of India’s openers. KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal had a tough time in the first half hour or so, as they were beaten and edged quite a few deliveries.

India had won the toss and opted to bat first.

The openers put on 31 before the first wicket fell after 24 dot balls had built the pressure on the batters. KL Rahul, who scored a century in the first Test, was unsure about playing at one from Olivier and ended up edging it to the keeper Kyle Verreynne for 12.

Off the next over, Rabada got into the act too, finding the outside edge of Mayank, and Aiden Markram pocketed a regulation catch as the opener was gone for 15.

After the early wickets, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli dropped anchor and left alone plenty of deliveries to keep South Africa from getting another wicket. The duo steadied the ship and were happy to let as many deliveries go as needed. Kohli, who played 15 dots before getting of the mark, opened his account with a crisp cover drive.

Kohli and Pujara's watchful approach saw India adding 42 runs to the cause after the openers' wickets. India went to Lunch with the score at 75/2.

After Lunch, Pujara started off proceedings with a boundary and looked set to get another half-century while Kohli was being more patient at the other end. The duo knew they’d have to bat time as SA’s pacers continued to bowl with good control.

In the 10^th over after Lunch, Pujara however was dismissed as Marco Jansen came round the wicket and found his outside edge, which the keeper gleefully caught. Pujara, who had scored 43, smashed 7 boundaries during his stay and helped steady the ship in the first session after the early with a 62-run stand along side Virat Kohli.

In walked Ajinkya Rahane to join Kohli with the former vice-captain under pressure due to his recent run of poor form. However, after adding 21 runs to the cause with the captain, Rahane edged one to the keeper, who made no mistake as Rabada struck for the second time in the day. Rahane was gone for 9 as India lost their fourth wicket and were in a spot of bother.

Kohli, who hit the only six of the innings so far, meanwhile at the other end had dug in and was setting himself up to play a big knock.

Rishabh Pant then joined Kohli in the middle as India were forced to rebuild after the two quick wickets in the afternoon. Pant slapped Rabada for a boundary through midwicket early on before he followed the captain's footsteps in terms of playing with a watchful approach. Kohli meanwhile was continuing to soldier on, blocking out one end.

Just before Tea was called, Kohli survived a DRS check for caught behind as well, which South Africa didn't enjoy very much. Kohli (40*) and Rishabh Pant (12*) took the visitors to Tea with the score at 141/4.

After Tea, Pant and Kohli continued to rebuild with the southpaw taking his time initially but finding the fence a few times in the first half hour of the session.

Meanwhile at the other end, Kohli's drive, which was misfielded and ran away to the fence to get him his half century, off 158 deliveries.

Off the next over, Pant tried to steer Jansen away through gully and was caught for 27, as India lost a fifth wicket after a 51-run stand.

R Ashwin could not keep Kohli company for too long, and was caught behind for 2 off 10 deliveries soon after as Marco Jansen picked his third wicket.

Shardul Thakur added 12 to the cause with a magnificent six over point of Rabada, before Keshav Maharaj had him caught at short cover, for his first wicket in the series. Kohli at the other end had started to go through the gears as India crossed the 200-run mark while Thakur was still batting.

Jasprit Bumrah played out 9 deliveries after that before Rabada had him fending a short one, only to be caught at slip by Dean Elgar. Kohli, who was hogging the strike by now, had batted for almost 200 deliveries by the time Bumrah's wicket fell.

Kohli continued to soldier on for a bit with Umesh Yadav for company, but could not carry on for very long, edging it to Verreynne for 79 from 201 deliveries, becoming Rabada's fourth wicket of the innings. The keeper himself took 5 catches.

Umesh and Mohammed Shami added 12 runs before the latter was the final wicket to fall, with India being cleaned up for 223. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada picked 4 wickets and Marco Jansen picked 3.

Back in to bat for a bit before stumps, South Africa lost their captain first, in the fifth over when Jasprit Bumrah had him edging to first slip, where Pujara took an easy catch. Elgar was gone for 3.

Aiden Markram (8*) and Keshav Maharaj (6*) from then on in took SA to stumps with the score at 17/1, trailing India by 206 runs.

India, who won the toss and opted to bat first, have made two changes with Virat Kohli and Umesh Yadav replacing Hanuma Vihari and the injured Mohammed Siraj. South Africa are unchanged.

The three-match Test series is delicately poised at 1-1 after South Africa won the second Test against India in Johannesburg. India have never won a Test series in South Africa and the Virat Kohli led side will be looking to create history.

India, mind you, have never won at Cape Town, where the conditions in the morning are a tad bit overcast.

South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar(c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi

India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav