Debutant Ngidi takes first test wicket but Kohli holds firm for India

The post-tea session was brief and stop-start, with a short, sharp shower sending the players off the field for an hour, and the light turning murky 5.1 overs after resumption.

Despite Kohli’s efforts, South Africa had a first-innings lead of 28.

But India’s reply stuttered early when KL Rahul was out caught and bowled by Morne Morkel for 10, and Cheteshwar Pujara was run out first ball he faced by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from debutant Ngidi. The openers added 28 runs before a weird 10th over from Morkel turned the tide once again.

Whichever way the rest of the match unfolds the Proteas will know they have unleashed yet another exciting fast bowling talent who also has the heart and the temperament for the job.

Skipper Virat Kohli (153) was the highest scorer among the Indian batsmen.

It left South Africa 3 for 2, effectively 31 for 2, and with R Ashwin – who took the new ball – continually threatening both edges of the left-handed Elgar at the other end, India were piling on the pressure.

The importance of De Villiers’ innings can not be understated after he came to the wicket with the Proteas in early trouble at 3/2. Minutes later, he did get the first notch on what’s likely to be a long wicket-belt, with a attractive delivery catching the edge of Parthiv Patel’s bat. The Proteas were restricted to a score of 335 in a not so live pitch at Centurion. Usually at Centurion, the wickets are caught behind.

“I have played cricket here all my life and I have never seen a wicket like this at SuperSport Park”.

Rabada welcomed Ashwin with three nasty bouncers, the last of which was still rising when it hit his left thumb, leaving the off-spinner grimacing. It was two paced. They are very good players when you attack the stumps. His 169 and 155 (Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively) still rule the list with Kohli falling short by some distance. What he meant was “We shall play the day out and the Proteas would be anxious to the core”.

Vijay’s dismissal in the evening session was followed by Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel falling cheaply, but Kohli would not be shifted and the match is intriguingly poised as a result.

India trail South Africa by 152 runs having bowled their hosts out for 335 just before lunch on a slow wicket that has bounce, but little lateral movement. “He backs his strength totally and I am hopeful they will take the game away from South Africa”, Ishant said. That is very important for us. “I wasn’t fully recovered from fever so I didn’t play the first game”, Ishant said at the press conference. “When I got there I slipped a bit, but then I saw he was halfway down the wicket so I took my chance and I got him”, Ngidi said.

Looks like Anushka Sharma is proving to be not just the Lady Love but brought in Lady Luck as well for Virat Kohli at Centurion. Only time will tell.