The Proteas got a wobbly start to their innings after India declared on 502/7 on day two of the first Test in Visakhapatnam, writes Khalid Mohidin.
What an entertaining day of true, hard Test cricket.
After a day of total India domination, South Africa found their way into the contest, particularly in the second session.
The first session saw India continue where they left off on day one. They marched past 300 and Rohit Sharma continued his onslaught.
They ended on 324-1 with Keshav Maharaj finally getting the much-needed breakthrough, removing Rohit after a fantastic 176 off 244 balls (23 fours, 6 sixes).
It also saw Mayank Agarwal reach his maiden ton.
READ: SESSION MOMENTS: MAYANK AGARWAL’S MAIDEN TON
After the lunch break, it was all South Africa who fought their way back into the contest, finally taking wickets, six of them, with the pick of the wickets going to Senuran Muthusamy who dismissed Virat Kohli for his maiden Test wicket.
READ: SESSION MOMENTS: MUTHUSAMY BAGS KOHLI AS HIS MAIDEN WICKET
But India still kept the flood gates open, scoring runs through Agarwal who turned his maiden ton into a double century.
He hit 215 runs off 371 balls (23 fours; 6 sixes) before part-time spinner Dean Elgar dismissed him.
India managed to reach their desired target of 502-7 and they declared to send the Proteas in to bat, giving the visitors 20 overs to settle themselves, if the light and weather permitting.
The South African innings got off to a horrible start when Aiden Markram was bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin who made the pitch look like a completely different surface than what the Proteas bowled on.
Dean Elgar, however, showed good intent, his six in the 11th over off Ravindra Jadeja expressed how the Proteas aim to approach their innings.
But the Proteas lost their second wicket when Ashwin sent Theunis de Bruyn searching for a drive, but he found a bottom edge which reduced South Africa to 31-2. Dane Piedt was sent in as a night watchman and he was bowled for a duck as South Africa were reduced to 34-3.
They ended the day on 39-3.
India (1st innings) 502/7 dec – Mayank Agarwal (215), Rohit Sharma (176); Senuran Muthusamy (1/63), Keshav Maharaj 3/189, Dean Elgar 1/4)
South Africa (1st innings) 39-3 – Dean Elgar (27*), Theunis de Bruyn (4); Ravichandran Ashwin (2-9), Ravindra Jadeja (1-21)
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix
