Kohli, Bumrah battle for India but South Africa take ascendancy

Virat Kohli singlehandedly kept India in the game by hitting his 21st Test ton as India inched to closer to South Africa’s first innings total at lunch on Day 2 of the second Test match at Centurion.

Final Session

Rain and bad light played spoilsport in the final session of the Day 3 but not after South Africa had again taken the upperhand in the second Test courtesy a classy half-century by AB de Villiers.

Only 10 overs of play was possible in the final session. A 10-12 minute heavy rainfall forced the players stay indoors for about an hour and when they came back on, the light did not permit much action.

South Africa were 90 for 2 when bad light brought the curtain down on thrid day's play, 108 runs ahead of India. De Villiers was unbeaten on 50 with Elgar (36*) for company. 

The situation could have a lot different had Parthiv Patel gone for what appeared to a regulation catch off Jasprit Bumrah's bowling. Bumrah got one off the bounce off length, which got the outside of half of Elgar's bat only to fly for a boundary and both Parthiv and Pujara looked at each other without going for the catch.

De Villiers at the other end was an epitome of class, working his way towards his 42nd Test fifty. 

Tea Report

AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar resurrected the South African second innings to take them to 60 for 2 at tea after Jaspirt Bumrah wrecked havoc with the new ball.

De Villiers remained unbeaten on 33 with Elgar at 23 for company as South Africa stretched their lead to 88 in the post-lunch session.

Jasprit Bumrah made full use of the indifferent bounce of SuperSport Park with his slingy action to send back Aiden Markram (0) and Hashim Amla (1) in identical fashion. South Africa were reduced to 3 for 2 after taking a slender lead of 38 in the first innings.

Markram, who looked the best South African batsman in the first innings was done by the low bounce and vicious inward movement from Bumrah. Bumrah provided the breakthrough as early as the second over of the innings.

Playing only his second test match, Bumrah was immaculate with his lines and was rewarded with another wicket in his third over when the second highest socrer of first innings, Amla was trapped in front.

De Villiers again used his attacking instincts to bail his side out of a sticky situation. His partner at the other end, Elgar, however looked far from comfortable at the crease. After Bumrah, Ashwin beat him on numerous occasions.

Innings Break

India conceded a 28-run lead after their first innings ended at 307 in the post-lunch session on the third day of the second Test against South Africa.

Skipper Virat Kohli was the last man out after a fighting 153-run knock. He had no option but to look for quick runs as wickets were tumbling at the other end.

Both the wickets after lunch were picked up by Morne Morkel. 

Lunch Report

Virat Kohli singlehandedly kept India in the game by hitting his 21^st Test ton as India inched to closer to South Africa’s first innings total at lunch on Day 2 of the second Test match at Centurion.

At the break, Kohli was batting on 141 runs (193 balls, 14 fours) while Ishant Sharma was yet to open his account. India trailed by another 48 runs.

Starting from overnight 183 for 5, Kohli and Hardik Pandya (15) took their overnight sixth wicket partnership to 45 runs. In doing so, they helped India cross 200 in the 65th over.

Kohli then reached his hundred off 146 balls, inclusive of 10 fours. He became the first overseas captain to score a Test hundred at Centurion. The previous highest for a visiting captain at this ground was 90 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2010.

Additionally, he became only the second Indian skipper to score a Test hundred on South African soil, after Sachin Tendulkar at Cape Town in 1997.

This was Kohli's second Test hundred in South Africa, the second-most after Tendulkar who has 5 Test centuries here.

However, Kohli's joy was cut short as another suicidal moment of running between the wickets gifted South Africa a breakthrough, as Pandya was run-out for not dragging his bat in.

He had set off for a run in the 68th over, only for Kohli to send him back but Vernon Philander's throw from mid-on beat him by inches as Pandya didn't drag his bat or even grounded his foot.

Kagiso Rabada (1-73) then bowled a testing spell spell to R Ashwin (38, 54 balls, 7 fours), but the batsman managed to survive a barrage of short balls, despite being hit on his left hand. He countered by taking three boundaries off Rabada in his next over.

The duo continued to score at a good pace and brought up their 50-stand off 62 balls.

South Africa took the second new ball in the 82nd over, and Philander (1-39) immediately struck. Ashwin was caught at second slip off his third delivery. He put on vital 71 runs with Kohli for the 7th wicket.

In the very next over, Morne Morkel (2-52) had Mohammed Shami (1) caught at first slip as Kohli began to run out of partners.

On day one, South Africa won the toss and chose to bat with the pitch surprising everyone with its flat nature. Aiden Markram scored 94 and Hashim Amla made 82.

On day two, India's reply was accentuated by Murali Vijay’s 46 as he put on 79 runs with Kohli. Cheteshwar Pujara was run out for a golden duck and Rohit Sharma only made 10 runs.

South Africa won the first Test in Cape Town by 72 runs and lead the three-Test series 1-0.