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Cricket PlayersIndia vs South Africa Highlights 1st Test Day 1: Bad light stops play after KL Rahul's gritty fifty takes IND to 208/8
India vs South Africa Highlights, 1st Test, Day 1: KL Rahul's gritty half-century took IND past 200 before bad light, rain stopped the proceedings.
India vs South Africa Highlights, 1st Test, Day 1: KL Rahul showcased brilliant resilience, steering the innings with the tail to propel India to 208/8 before rain curtailed play on Day. His courageous half-century lifted the score past 200, a commendable feat when reaching 150 seemed challenging. Unfortunately, India's progress was abruptly halted by rain and bad light, eventually dashing hopes of a resumed play and forced early stumps pn Day 1 amid relentless downpour....Read More
South Africa got off to a good start on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against India. They had won the toss and put India to bat first. India ended up losing their top three inside the first 11 overs. Catches have since been dropped off both Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli. The pair settled into their innings and saw India through to Lunch. The score was 91/3 at the end of the first session and the partnership between Kohli and Iyer stood at 67 off 89 balls. It was expected to be an on and off day with rain predicted but the sun is beating down now at SuperSport Park.
Rabada shook up the Indian batting order early after Lunch, dismissing Iyer and then Kohli in quick succession. He then dismissed Ashwin to get to his four-wicket haul. Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee have struggled to keep up the same quality and so India benefitted from Rahul and Shardul Thakur milking runs from the pair while Rabada was given a breather. However, Rabada returned and dismissed Thakur in his very first over. Rahul then rotated strike with Bumrah and saw India through to Tea. India were 176/7 in 50 overs at Tea on day 1 with Rahul on 39 off 71. Rahul got to his half century in style early in the third session, hitting a four and a six off the last two balls of the 52nd over. The toss was delayed by 45 minutes earlier in the day due to wet patches in the field.
It's tough to win in South Africa. For India, it gets tougher. Their batters have one of the worst records here, their spinners rarely have any sort of impact in these conditions. As a team, they have never won a Test series in South Africa. Since 1996, India have played 23 Tests in South Africa and won only 4 and never more than once in a series. Despite this, they are the third-most successful team in South Africa behind Australia and England. That's how tough it is to play South Africa in South Africa. But having said that, India have given South Africa a run for their money pretty much every time they have toured here in the last 10 years or so. In fact, the last time India went there, many believed they were the stronger of the two teams. And they did pretty well too but resurgent performances by South Africa in the fourth innings, denied India twice in the series.
What about this time? Rohit Sharma will be leading for the first time. India don't have either Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara - both dropped. Mohammed Shami is out with an injury and so is Rishabh Pant, who was a prolific run-scorer during India's last tour. But they do have Virat Kohli, who averages more than 50 here. They do have three exciting young batters - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who will be playing their first Test in South Africa. Jasprit Bumrah is as lethal as he ever was. Mohammed Siraj has his tail up. And South Africa? Well, they are still not the same as they once used to be. Captain Temba Bavuma is always under pressure, Dean Elgar will be playing in his farewell series, there are concerns over the fitness of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Does that mean India once again have a golden opportunity to conquer their toughest summit? Yes, in a way. At least the Indian fans would like to believe it that way.
Below are a few pointers from the IND vs SA 1st Test Day 1:
- South Africa got off to a good start with three wickets in the first 11 overs.
- However, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then saw India through to Lunch.
- India were 91/3 in 26 overs at Lunch with Iyer and Kohli putting on 67 off 93 balls.
- Kagiso Rabada then rattled the Indian lineup by taking a fifer in the second session.
- India were 176/7 in 50 overs at Tea.
- Rahul got to his half-century early in the 3rd session.
- India reached 208/8 before rain forced early stumps.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rahul stands out amid IND batting failure
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: The opening day of this Test series has clearly belonged to South Africa, but India's score isn't that bad after all. They were 24/3 before two crucial partnerships and a KL Rahul grind dug them out of a hole. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer batted with a lot of positivity en route to stitching a 68-run partnership. With South Africa opting for bizarre and wayward lines, Kohli and Shreyas Batted with freedom and launched a counterattack to take India through to lunch. SA learnt from their mistakes and roared back with better lines and lengths. The result was Shreyas' wicket to a ball that stayed a tad low. Kohli then received an unplayable peach from Rabada to have his innings cut short.
Rahul then found solid support from Shardul Thakur even as the 'Lord' took a couple of blows. He raced to 24 off 33 before Rabada removed him to complete his fifer. But although wickets fell around him, Rahul kept going. Finding a second wind in his batting, Rahul, who scored a century at this very venue two years ago as an opener, scored a fifty that is as big and crucial as a half-century. India are down to their last 2 wickets and Rahul is the last hope in their bid to get as many more runs as possible.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: The official verdict is out! Play has been called off
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: The writing was on the wall, and play has been called off. No surprises there. With about an hour more left, the officials felt the wiser call would be to draw curtains on the opening day. Live visuals are clearly not encouraging. The rain is so heavy that puddles are beginning to form on the ground. Nonetheless, that's stumps. India will resume Day 2 at 208/8. And the update we are getting for tomorrow is that we will have an on-time start.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: It's pelting down now
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Some realtime updates from the venue. It is bucketing down at the SuperSport Park and will apparently take a miracle for any further play to take place today. "Not much chance of play today I think," says our correspondent from the venue.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Uh oh! INTERRUPTION
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Bad light, rain stop play in Centurion. India 208/8 (Rahul 70*; Jansen 1/52) on Day 1 against South Africa. Although it had started to drizzle, the players walked off because the light had gotten poorer. The players walked off but the pitch was yet to be covered. Unfortunately though, the rain has now really picked up and we could be in for a haul.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rahul opens the face of his bat… gets a FOUR!
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rahul's bat working like a surgeon's knife now. Marco Jansen hasn't had the best of days so he realises he is the man to go after. Rahul opens the face of the bat to guide the ball past gully to help himself to another boundary as the score keeps ticking. Runs coming thick and fast now. Some extremely handy runs.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Back-to-back fours! Rahul taking his chances
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Two extremely delightful strokes from KL. Goes inside out with a lofted cover drive and follows it with a full-blooded pull shot for consecutive boundary. With that, India celebrate as the 200 comes up. The dressing room applauds Rahul. And what an innings it has been!
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: And Rahul denies a single
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: With rain drops ascending from the heavens, perhaps Rahul felt the umpires would call off the players, but he doesn't, and hence India's hopes of keeping Rahul on strike for the next over are dented. So Siraj will face Jansen in the next over. While we say that, a huge thunder roars in the background. Commentator says 'there is a storm brewing'. And rightly so. Suddenly it's gotten dark and cloudy.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: BOWLED! Jansen gets Bumrah
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: GOT HIM! Flashbacks of the last tour as Bumrah tries to go after Jansen but is cleaned up. India's No. 8 loses his patience, and concentration and has his stumps rattled. India go 8 down for 191. On to the final two wickets as out walks Siraj.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: 53 overs done
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: It is Rabada and Burger bowling in tandem. Rahul is on 51 off 81, Bumrah on one off 17. India are inching closer and closer to 200 and Rahul looking in total command.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 189/7 in 53 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: FOUR AND SIX! Rahul brings up his fifty in style
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Fifth ball of the 52nd from Burger is whipped this one through midwicket. Then the next ball is lazered in at 142kph and Rahul smashes it over deep third for six. That is a half-century of the highest order from Rahul, it has come in 80 balls. Extraordinary innings this considering how difficult this pitch has proven to be today.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 187/7 in 52 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: The players return
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rahul and Bumrah return, Rabada to continue with his spell. About 40 overs left today, wonder what the Indians can get upto here.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: The second session
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Belonged almost entirely to South Africa, specifically to Kagiso Rabada really. He ended the Kohli-Iyer stand that troubled them throughout the first session in the very first over after Lunch by dismissing Iyer. Then he got Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. The fact that India started looking good when he was taking a breather and then promptly lost a wicket as soon as he came back on shows just how important he has been today to the Proteas' cause. Now, all eyes are on KL Rahul and on India's three tail-enders to somehow get them to a score above 220.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: TEA!
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rabada given a standing ovation as he leads South Africa off the field. A single taken off the last ball of the 50th over and so Rahul will keep strike. He has rotated strike expertly with Bumrah thus far, just nine of the 23 balls in this partnership has been faced by the latter. Rahul finishes on 39 off 71, Bumrah on 0 off nine.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 176/7 in 50 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rahul takes a hit now
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Fifth ball of the 50th over, a bouncer that surprised Rahul and it deflected off his right forearm onto the grill of his helmet.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: FOUR! Oh that is stunner from Rahul
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Length delivery from Burger first ball of the 50th, Rahul lofts it over the cover with the bottom hand coming off the bat in the follow-through. He is going to play his shots now, Jasprit Bumrah is at the other end and so he will be playing with the tail.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 169/7 in 47.1 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: OUT! Fifer for Rabada!
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rabada smashes it and Elgar takes a smart catch at covers. It was straight at him but it was coming like a bullet above his head and he makes no mistake. It is Rabada once again, 13th Test five-wicket haul for him. He has been head and shoulders above all his teammates today.
Thakur c Elgar b Rabada 24 (33)
IND vs SA Live Score: India 164/7 in 46.2 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Thakur hit again
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: First ball of the over from Rabada and it is into Thakur's body. It gets big on him and Thakur takes on his upper front arm.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rabada returns
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Coetzee and Jansen have been slightly better in the last few overs but South Africa have pretty much been a one-man attack today. Problem for India is, that man is returning now. Thakur on 24 off 31, Rahul on 29 off 57.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 164/6 in 46 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: SIX! Extraordinary from Rahul
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Jansen bowls the first ball of the 45th nice and wide, Rahul slashes at it with such fantastic hand-eye co-ordination, the timing is perfect and soars all the way over extra cover for the second six of the day. That's pretty much all the runs that come in that over, with Thakur getting away with a bit of a mix-up off the last ball as well. Rahul is on 29 off 53, Thakur on 23 off 29.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 163/6 in 45 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Thakur has been hit!
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Third ball of the 44th, Coetzee bangs it in and Thakur is surprised by it. It comes canoning up to his head 142kph and hits him on the helmet. This isn't the situation where there will be a concussion test for formality's sake. The swelling on Thakur's head can be spotted as he speaks to the physio. He puts and ice pack to his head. Then he gingerly puts on the new helmet. Looks like he is going to carry on. Thakur is on 23 off 26, Rahul on 23 off 47.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 157/6 in 43.3 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: FOUR!
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Thakur motoring along here. A nice full toss on the pads first ball of the 42nd by Coetzee. Thakur just smears it through square leg. He moves to 19 off 18, India's 150 comes up.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: DRINKS in the second session
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: That is the end of an hour of this session. Thakur is on 14 off as many, Rahul on 23 off 38. Thakur has been the most flamboyant batter we have seen thus far today.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 148/6 in 40 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: FOUR! What a shot from Thakur
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Well, he is called Lord and in England he was being called Beefy after Ian Botham and this is why. Second ball of the 40th bowled by Coetzee, back of a length outside off. Thakur gets on top of it and flamboyantly hits it off side.
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: 38 overs gone
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Rabada has been given a breather and Marco Jansen returns for the 39th over. Rahul is 15 off 31, Thakur is the new man in and he has scored nine in as many balls. This is pretty much the final partnership on which India can really depend to get to a good score now.
IND vs SA Live Score: India 135/6 in 38 overs
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: OUT! Now Ashwin goes, Rabada gets his 4th
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test: Oh that's a brute of a delivery, stands up from a length on Ashwin who is completely done by it. It hits the glove and handle and darts above third slip where substitute fielder Wiaan Mulder times his jump perfectly and grabs it. Rabada has taken his fourth and he is breathing fire here.
Ashwin c sub (Mulder) b Rabada 8 (11)
IND vs SA Live Score: India 121/6 in 35 overs
