South African bowler Vernon Philander celebrates the dismissal of Indian batsman Lokesh Rahul (not in picture) during the first day of the third test match between South Africa and India at Wanderers cricket ground on January 24, 2018 in Johannesburg. / AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA
If ever there was a grind in a session of Test cricket, the first one of the third Test between the Proteas and India at the Wanderers was one.
The visitors painstakingly reached 113/4 at tea on Wednesday’s opening day as they battled to vindicate captain Virat Kohli’s decision to bat first.
In fact, he himself was at the forefront of the resistance in reaching an unbeaten 54 from 106 deliveries.
However, Kohli lived a charmed life in-between a few crisp drives to be boundary.
The Indian captain pulled far too early against a decent bouncer from Kagiso Rabada but Vernon Philander inexplicably didn’t get a hand to a dolly of a chance at extra cover.
On 32, Kohli also tried a rash cut off a wide Morne Morkel ball though the shot and resultant edge surprised AB de Villiers, who couldn’t hold on at slip.
It was eventually the impressive Lungi Ngidi (1/7) who scalped him again, inviting him for a drive off a fullish delivery that subtly moved away.
This time, De Villiers held on.
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The Proteas seamers enjoyed themselves in favourable conditions.
Philander bowled a miserly spell of 1/1 from his first eight overs, sevens of them being maidens.
It was the second most economical figures in Tests for South Africa in an eight-over spell since 1992.
The stocky seamer at times made the ball swing square and snatched the wicket of KL Rahul with one that pegged back.
Kagiso Rabada (1/15) was also menacing despite scalping Murali Vijay (8) with a bit of a half-volley.
He should’ve had Kohli’s wicket when the Indian captain pulled far too early but Philander inexplicably didn’t get a hand to a dolly of a chance at extra cover.
Rabada was rightfully livid.
The plucky Cheteshwar Pujara (5 off 66) provided another highlight of the morning.
It took him 54 balls just to get off the mark and was greeted with a huge ironic cheer when he turned a ball to leg.
Pujara survived two close LBW appeals from Philander and Lungi Ngidi.
He somehow managed to fashion an unbeaten 27 off 145 balls by the time the break came.
South Africa continued to be wasteful when Philander induced an edge from Ajinkya Rahane but was overturned when replays showed he overstepped.
Morkel though trapped him in front to minimise the damage shortly after.
Proteas: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.
India: KL Rahu, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
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