Centurion: Virat Kohli’s (153, 217b, 15×4) 21st Test hundred in 109 innings kept South Africa’s first innings lead to a mere 28 runs at the Super Sport Park here Monday. However, by close on the third rain-hit day the hosts had extended it to 118 by reaching 90 for two at stumps with AB de Villiers (50 batting, 78b 6×4) and Dean Elgar (36 batting, 78b, 4×4, 1×6) at the crease.
Kohli’s hundred took him to the fourth position in the race to the fastest to 21 Test centuries. In the process he pipped his idol Sachin Tendulkar who reached the landmark in 110 innings.
Only 10 overs were possible in the final session as rain and bad light hampered play. But in that time De Villiers and Elgar rescued South Africa who had slipped to 2/3 with Jasprit Bumrah (2/30) having sent back both Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla. He could have had Elgar too, but Parthiv Patel missed an easy catch allowing the edge to sail away expecting first clip Cheteshwar Pujara to go for it. The batsman was on 29 then and the miss could cost India dear.
Post tea, play only got underway for 20 minutes before a thunderstorm washed away nearly an hour. At resumption of play, Indian skipper was clearly unhappy with the wet ground and how it affected the ball as well.
This was after Kohli’s masterclass when he single-handedly resurrected the team’s fortunes. The Indian skipper put on 25 runs for the ninth wicket with Ishant Sharma in nine overs. More importantly, it consumed close to 45 minutes and in the context of the game, it may turn out to be crucial.
Morne Morkel (4/60) accounted for Ishant off a short ball in the 91st over and then two overs later Kohli was last man out, caught at long on.
The importance of Kohli’s innings can be gauged from the fact that in spite of losing Hardik Pandya to a suicidal run out, he never backed off the challenge. His cover driving and the way he tackled the short deliveries was a treat to watch. He oozed positivity, but sadly it did not rub on to the other batsmen. Ravi Ashwin (38, 54b, 7×4) did offer some resistance as he and Kohli put on 71 runs for the seventh wicket. But the moment, the new ball was taken, Ashwin went for an expansive cover drive off Vernon Philander (1/67) and was brilliantly snaffled up by Protea skipper Faf du Plessis at second slip. It was a ball he could have well left alone.
Prior to his dismissal, the way Pandya committed hara-kiri had experts fuming. Sunil Gavaskar termed the attitude of the batsman ‘lackadaisical and not fit for international cricket’.
Press trust of India