While India dominated Day 1 and the second day of the Test was washed due to rain, South Africa made a strong comeback on Day 3 as they sent back dangerman KL Rahul back to the pavilion after he smashed 123 runs.
The batter was in form and could have continued the momentum but Kagiso Rabada had the last laugh. After struggling for rhythm, Rabada was surely fired up and used that anger to get more intensity into this bumper. The Indian opening batsman was cramped on the swivel pull shot, got a faint top edge and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock caught it towards his left.
Just like Lord’s he got out early starting after a hundred. Surely it was an end of fantastic innings in which he faced 260 balls and had 16 fours and one six.
KL Rahul’s fine innings comes to an end on 123.#TeamIndia 278/4 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/y2aKIXcGOL
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 28, 2021
Soon after Rahul’s wicket, Ajinkya Rahane who was in good form also lost his wicket. The former vice-captain had very good innings, but gave away his wicket and missed by two runs to reach his half-century. Lungi Ngidi – who had picked up three wickets on Day 1 – sent back Rahane for 48. It was a short of a length delivery outside off stump and the batter nicked it off.
The ball bounced extra and also seamed back in to surprise him and take the outside edge. South Africa got both the overnight batters out at the start of Day 3.
India has lost five wickets and scored 291 runs. The early wickets could have been the reason for a day’s gap due to the bad weather. With an overnight shower and intermittent rain during the first two sessions of Day 2, the umpires had finally called off the day’s play.
Day 1 also saw Mayank Agarwal play well and score 60 off 123 deliveries before being dismissed by Lungi Ngidi. Skipper Virat Kohli once again failed to convert his good start and got out on 35 off 94 balls. Former vice-captain of the Test team Ajinkya Rahane stayed unbeaten on 40 off 81 balls, with the help of 8 boundaries.
As far as South Africa is concerned, Ngidi had the best figures as picked up all three Indian wickets including that of Cheteshwar Pujara who was dismissed for a duck.
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