Mayank, Spinners Have South Africa on the Mat

The opener converts his maiden Test hundred into a double while Rohit scores 176; Ashwin and Jadeja then make inroads

- S. Dinakar

From the ground here you can glimpse stretches of the Eastern Ghats that dot the coastline. It’s a wonderful sight of nature adding to cricket’s lure.

Perhaps, Mayan Agarwal was inspired by the mountains. For the opener conquered a peak, converting his maiden Test hundred into a double.

Playing only in his fifth Test, Mayan — organised, focussed and clinical in execution — progressed to 215 against South Africa on the second day of the first Freedom Test here on Thursday.

And India, on a surface beginning to play tricks and increasingly assist spinners, declared at a mammoth 502 for seven and then made inroads.

Flight and drift

R. Ashwin spun one back into Aiden Markram to pierce the gate and rearrange the stumps and then had Theunis de Bruyn flummoxed by a delivery of tantalising flight and drift; ‘keeper Saha revealed safe hands. Moments later Ravindra Jadeja prised out nightwatchman Dane Piedt. The Indian celebrations had begun.

The core of the Indian innings was a 317-run opening partnership between Mayan and Rohit Sharma in 82 overs; the third highest first wicket Test association for India.