Reaching 141 for four at tea, India were looking good for a first innings score of over 250 before losing six for 82 in the final session.
Achievement: , as it happened
Kohli (79 runs from 201 balls), to lead the team after not playing in the second Test due to a back spasm, worked hard for his first half-century of the series, but was eventually run out of partners.
Cheteshwar Pujara (43) was the second batsman to make a substantial contribution.
Lead South Africa Pacer Kagiso RabadaPlaying his 50th Test, was the fastest bowler of the day and finished with four for 73 in 22 overs. tall left arm fast bowler marco jensen Took three wickets.
At the end of the game, India got the crucial wicket of South African captain Dean Elgar (3). Jasprit Bumrah Caught him at first slip.
(Reuters Photo)
At stumps, the hosts posted 17 for one in eight overs with Aiden Markram (8) and night watchman Keshav Maharaj (6) in the middle.
Earlier, Rabada and Kohli were engaged in a fascinating battle throughout the day before the South African removed the opposition skipper, who was looking for a boundary towards the end of the innings.
The hallmark of Kohli’s particular innings was how he dealt with the balls in the off-stump channel, something he struggled to get going in the series-decider.
What was remarkable was that he did not shy away from playing the brilliant drives he is known for, chose the right deliveries for his stroke and did not play carelessly around the off-stump.
It will be STUMPS on the first day of the third test. South Africa 17/1, trailing #TeamIndia (223) by 206 runs. Scorecard -… https://t.co/7Ge6NT7B0l
— BCCI (@BCCI) 1641917456000
Kohli, who took 15 deliveries to get off the mark, went with a wide cover drive off Jensen and scored his second-slowest half-century with a superb straight drive.
However, for the most part of his innings, Kohli was all grit and inconsolable as South African bowlers, especially Rabada, kept attacking the off-stump corridor in favorable conditions.
The Indian lower order failed to contribute this time, leaving Kohli trapped.
Rishabh Pant (27) was the first to be dismissed in the final session as he tried to cut a ball too close to his body and gave a simple catch to Gully.
Jansen caught Ashwin (2) behind at an angle and Shardul Thakur (12) was caught at short cover for spinner Keshav Maharaj for the first wicket of the series.
66 runs in the afternoon session, Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (9 runs off 12 balls) were dismissed.
Kohli, who went off the mark with a delightful cover drive in the morning, hit another scintillating six off Jensen in the afternoon, besides smacking Rabada for a six off the ball at the wrong time.
Rabada burst into flames in his seven-over spell, but Kohli was able to see through it with the required patience and discipline.
Pujara once again showed positive intent, but he was undone by a beauty in Jenson, who was swung around the wicket and was good enough to take the outside edge.
Rahane, who has shown great touch throughout the series but has not been able to convert the starts, was caught back one after another to straighten Rabada from a good length.
India put up a battle of 75 for two at lunch after losing their openers early.
Kohli opted to bat on a pitch with a decent amount of grass and clouds while hovering over the spectacular Newlands ground.
The South African pacer of Rabada and Duane Olivier made good use of the conditions in the first hour, removing Mayank Agarwal (15 off 35) and KL Rahul (12 off 35) respectively.
In-form Rahul, who has been brilliant at dropping the ball late, poked a rising delivery over the off-stump and dismissed the wicket-keeper.
Agarwal’s tendency to play the ball with hard hands led to his downfall as Rabada inspired a thick edge with his bat while Aiden Markram was resting at second slip.
In the third over of the innings, Agarwal was dropped for 0 off Rabada’s delivery.
With India in trouble at 33 for two, Kohli and Pujara together stabilized the ship.
Pujara accelerated to remove loose deliveries and his innings included four boundaries, including a pull shot from Olivier.
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