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on day 1. Meanwhile, the Indian vice-captain scored his own 7th Test century. He became the second Indian opener to score a century on the first day of the tour outside Asia.
Though India dominated the opening day, there were some disappointing factors as well. Cheteshwar Pujara, considered to be the wall of modern times, got the Golden Duck. Captain Virat Kohli had a good time in the middle but could bat for longer durations.
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For South Africa, it proved to be a day of hard work for the bowlers. In the first hour, South Africa employed four pace substitutes in Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Wynn Mulder and debutant Marco Jansson. But none of them could put Rahul and Agarwal in trouble. Rahul was extremely compact with his cards while Agarwal got India’s first boundary with a square drive from Ngidi.
Five overs later, Rahul hit his first boundary off Rabada with a straight-bat drive at mid-off. Jensen, who came into the first-change, hit three boundaries as Agarwal dismissed him through the off-side, flicking him twice through mid-wicket. Jansen came into the attack ahead of Agarwal as the right-handed batsman hit consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket. On the next ball, Agarwal was dismissed for 36 by keeper Quinton de Kock, spoiling South Africa’s first real chance at success.
Rahul gained momentum as he chased Mulder through sweeper-cover twice, while Agarwal tucked a short ball from Ngidi through fine leg. But on the next ball, Ngidi trapped Agarwal with a ball that came from behind a length and hit the pads from the inside edge.
Kohli then opened the final session with a square leg delivery off Maharaj. Rabada troubled him a bit but Kohli came forward and flashed his cover drive. Rahul was also troubled by Rabada but managed to coax a drive through from extra cover.
Rahul then smacks Maharaj for a four through mid-wicket, then dances down the pitch and hits a six at long-on. Ngidi bowled seven consecutive dot deliveries to Kohli and on the eighth ball, for a free break, Kohli chased a delivery wide outside off-stump and gave Mulder a simple catch at first slip.
(with agency input)
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