Cricket

Rabada wins Kolhi battle to make it Proteas’ day

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Kagiso Rabada celebrates an wicket with his teammates

India captain Virat Kohli made a resolute 79 but the Proteas bowlers dominated the first day of the series-deciding third Test against India at Newlands.

India were bowled out for 223 but hit back when Jasprit Bumrah claimed the wicket of Proteas captain Dean Elgar shortly before the close. South Africa finished the day on 17-1.

The India batters struggled after Kohli won the toss and decided to bat under an overcast sky on a well-grassed pitch which offered seam movement for South Africa’s fast bowlers.

Kagiso Rabada, playing in his 50th Test, took 4-73 and eventually won an enthralling duel with Kohli when the India captain was ninth man out.

Left-arm fast-bowling discovery Marco Jansen took 3-55.

Kohli defied the bowlers for more than four hours in facing 201 balls. He was involved in the only significant partnerships of the innings, 62 for the third wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (43) and 51 for the fifth wicket with Risabh Pant (27).

Without a century in his previous 14 Tests, Kohli was clearly determined to make a major contribution on a day when most of his teammates struggled.

Refusing to be tempted into playing any rash shots, Kohli was content to leave the majority of the balls he faced early in his innings. It took him 15 balls to score his first runs, a sweetly timed cover drive for four off Marco Jansen.

Kohli contributed only 14 runs off 80 balls to the partnership with Pujara and needed 158 balls to reach his half-century.

When he was reduced to batting with the tail, Kohli became more adventurous and he fell to Rabada when he was caught behind playing a ball well outside his off-stump.

Kohli hit 12 fours as well as a hooked six off Rabada.

His battle with Rabada provided the most compelling cricket of the day with the South Africa fast bowler beating him outside the off-stump on several occasions and inducing an edge that fell just short of Aiden Markram at second slip.

Jansen, who took 12 wickets in the first Test, again made an impact, breaking the blossoming third-wicket partnership, forcing Pujara to push at a ball that moved away after earlier producing a delivery which nipped back at the batter.

Jansen also ended the stand between Kohli and Pant, having the wicketkeeper caught by Keegan Petersen at gully.

The India bowlers had eight overs before the close to get at the Proteas openers.

Bumrah responded in superb style bowling four maidens and picking up the crucial wicket of Elgar.

The Proteas captain, who guided his team to victory in Johannesburg last week with a defiant 96 not out, made only three before he was forced on to the back foot and edged Bumrah to Pujara at first slip.

The teams are locked at 1-1 in the three-match series after South Africa won the second Test in Johannesburg by seven wickets.

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix