Sport

SA vs IND: Virat Kohli scores his second slowest Test fifty to stabilize India in series decider

January 11, 2022
Sezarr

Virat Kohli’s slow but flexible innings grabbed headlines on the opening day of the ongoing third Test as he batted off 159 balls to complete his half-century.

Virat Kohli scored a flexible half-century vs SA, his second slowest in Test cricket (Reuters Photo)

highlighted

  • Virat Kohli hits his 28th Test fifty to stabilize India in third Test
  • This is Virat Kohli’s second slowest fifty in Test cricket.
  • Kohli returns to team after missing 2nd Test with back cramp

Captain Virat Kohli led from the front, scoring his second slowest Test fifty to stabilize India on the first day of the series decider against South Africa at Newlands. Kohli made a flexible effort to score a half-century off 158 balls on the difficult Newlands track. Incidentally, this is Kohli’s second-slowest half-century, a 172-ball attempt earlier in his career.

Kohli was perhaps lucky to be alive 10 minutes before tea, when South Africa claimed a catch by wicketkeeper Kyle Verren off seamer Duane Olivier. It was given not out, but upon review, there was a slight flutter as it was the technique of the ball coming off the bat to determine whether the batsman had an edge or not. However, this was not considered sufficient evidence to reverse the decision.

SA vs IND, 3rd Test: Day 1 scores and updates

Kohli returned to the team after missing the second Test with a back spasm, but his form is under some scrutiny after averaging only 26.08 in 14 Tests since the start of 2020, past his career-mark of 50.34. Down enough. After India won the toss and elected to bat in stormy conditions, South Africa has lost the flip of the coin for the 15th time in their last 16 Tests.

In-form KL Rahul (12) dismissed seamer Olivier with a score of 31 runs to Verene, and just two runs later Mayank Agarwal (15) at second slip off seamer Kagiso Rabada (2-52) in Aiden. Markram took the catch.

Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara (43) put on a 62-run stand for the third wicket and the latter dismissed Marco Jensen to Verene, and Ajinkya Rahane’s trouble continued as he became the second victim for Rabada with his score on 9.

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