KLASSY RAHUL HOWS THE WAY

Opener Slams 7th Ton, Agarwal Dazzles Too As India End Day One At 272-3 After Winning The Toss

- Partha Bhaduri

The demons of cricketing lore that reside in the Centurion pitch decided to largely sleep through Boxing Day. There had been too much rain coming into the first day of the first Test. Until late in the second session, there wasn’t enough sunshine to dry up the moisture, quicken up the wicket or rouse the baddies in the wicket to give the SA bowlers a serious nudge.

Often the demons would wake, momentarily, only to cock a snook at the South African pace attack and disappear. It was easier to enjoy the Indian batting instead as the visitors put up a rousing performance led by KL Rahul’s composed century (batting 122; 17x4, 1x6), his seventh in Tests and sixth away.

It was Virat Kohli’s brave call to bat first that saw India dominate Day 1, putting up 272/3 at stumps to set the platform for a big first-innings score.

Not always pretty or completely flawless, Rahul’s innings was, instead, quietly assertive and wisely restrained. It carried the resolute approach, decisive footwork, patience and intelligence at the crease of another Rahul, the new coach Dravid. It was just the sort of fighting knock India needed to make an early statement in the series.

Sure, Kagiso Rabada often fought lone ranger. Lungi Ngidi (3/45 off 17 overs) picked up all the wickers, lighting up the middle session with back-to-back scalps of the judicious and inform Mayank Agarwal (a well-compiled 60; 123 balls, 9x4) and the struggling Cheteshwar Pujara. The nervous left-arm debutant Marco Jansen also offered hope of a brighter future. Even so, this South African pace attack often looked weary, indisciplined and out of ideas.