CRICKET
Day 1: Rahul’s brilliant ton as India dominate
Rahul played a superb knock and smashed another away hundred for India.
Indian batters punished the inexperienced South African bowling lineup as India finished day 1 on 272-3.
Mayank Agarwal and Kl Rahul put up a brilliant opening stand for their side.
Rabada and Ngidi bowled nicely but the Indian batters still batted comfortably today.
All the 3 wickets that fell on day 1 were picked up by Lungi Ngidi.
India 1st innings 272-3
KL Rahul 122* (248) Ngidi 3-45 Agarwal 60 (123) Rahane 40*(81)
India won the toss today and surprisingly they elected to bat first.
As there was some overnight rain in Centurion, the pitch was under covers for a good amount of time.
Everyone thought the teams will like to bowl first on this pitch but Kohli made a surprising decision that proved right at the end of the day.
And when it came to selection, India raised some eyebrows by picking up Rahane in the team instead of the inform Shreyas Iyer.
The selectors have shown a big amount of confidence in Rahane by picking him but now he has to deliver with the bat in this match to prove himself.
South Africa also made 1 surprising change in their playing 11 by picking up Marco Jensen in the team who is playing his 1st Test match today.
Indian openers shine
The openers gave India a brilliant start with the bat as they smashed a superb partnership of 117 runs for the first wicket.
Both Rahul and Agarwal batted nicely to negotiate the tough period with the new ball early on.
They played Rabada and Ngidi’s overs patiently in the start.
Agarwal continued his form and score another crucial knock at the start of the innings.
Agarwal scored 60 runs before getting LBW out on Lungi Ngidi’s delivery.
But Rahul stayed calm till stumps on day 1 and he scored a great hundred today.
After the 117 run opening stand, Ngidi picked up two wickets in two balls in the 41st over.
He first dismissed Agarwal and then he picked up the important wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara on the very next ball of his over.
Pujara got out on a 1st ball duck which is very rare.
After losing back-to-back wickets, the skipper Virat Kohli joined Agarwal for the 3rd wicket.
Virat and Rahul put up a superb 82 run stand for the 3rd wicket.
Virat Kohli was also looking good today but unfortunately, he was again dismissed in the 30s and the fans will have to wait more for Virat’s 71 International hundred.
Kohli was dismissed on 35 runs by Ngidi who picked up his 3rd wicket of the day.
Rahane and Rahul played excellent cricket at the end of the day.
Rahul is still unbeaten on 122* runs while Rahane is playing on 40 runs and he is inching closer to a much-needed half-century.
Rahul’s Ton
Kl Rahul displayed a superb knock with the bat today to give his side a good start to their innings.
Rahul scored an unbeaten knock of 122 runs today which is the joint biggest innings in terms of runs by any Indian opener in an away Test match.
It was the 5th Test hundred for the Indian opener outside Asia.
KL Rahul will be looking to convert his 122 runs knock into a double hundred tomorrow.