Johannesburg: Irrespective of the fan following for 50-over and T20 versions of the game, Test cricket always tends to attract the aficionados. And why shouldn’t it? Cricket is all about a proper contest between bat and ball and it’s only Tests that provide it. The shorter formats always are loaded in favour of batsmen making it a highly one-sided affair.
The battle between bat and ball was once more evident at the Wanderers here, Wednesday, the first day of the third and final Test between South Africa and India. In an engrossing first two sessions, it seemed that India had weathered the storm that the green top of the Wanderers had to offer courtesy two battling knocks from skipper Virat Kohli (54, 106b, 9×4) and Cheteshwar Pujara (50, 179b, 8×4).
But as they did in the past two Tests, the visitors lost their last six wickets for just 43 runs to be bowled out for 187. In the remaining time, Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Aiden Markram, but even then the dice is heavily loaded in favour of the hosts, who ended the day at six for one. Eleven wickets on the day for 193 runs – fascinating cricket indeed.
The aggressive man that he is, Kohli decided to bat on winning the toss. And it seemed that he was a man on a mission. But then hoping for runs on this pitch against a bowling attack that South Africa possess are a mere illusion. KL Rahul (0) and Murali Vijay (8) found that out in quick time and India were looking down the barrel at 13 for two.
In walked Kohli and got into his run-scoring act immediately. At the opposite end, he had Pujara, who was determined just not to get out. The Saurashtra batsman took 54 balls to get off the mark – it was marked by huge applause as well as a wry smile from the batsman. But it was needed. Pujara left deliveries outside his body’s frame, those coming in were either played with a dead bat or he took body blows – an epitome of courage.
Against this backdrop, Kohli flourished. A couple of flashes over the slips off Kagiso Rabada (3/39) was followed up with an exquisite trademark Kohli cover drive. He was dropped on 12 and 13, but he deserved that luck. There was intent, there was positivity in his batting, after all he is a proud man and he had allowed South African bowlers to rule for too long. Had AB de Villiers not picked up a blinder at third slip after Kohli had flashed hard to Lungi Ngidi (1/27), the hosts would certainly have been in a spot of bother.
At 144 for four, with Pujara just having completed his 50, a total of around 250 was the on the cards. However, suddenly 144 for four became 144 for seven with Pujara, Parthiv Patel (two) and Hardik Pandya (0) leaving in quick succession.
They reached 187 because of Bhuvneshwar (30, 49b, 4×4) who got the maximum number of runs. Imagine, he was dropped for the second Test! But then this pitch will have an extra lease of life early on day two and the Indian also have a five-man pace attack. The onus is again on the bowlers to deliver the goods.
Can they do it? Time has the answer.
