India vs South Africa: Quinton de Kock enters elite list of Proteas with century in debut innings on Indian soil

He went on to score 111 runs off 163 balls as South Africa gave a tough fight to the Indian bowlers.

India dominated two days of the first Test against South Africa in Vishakhapatnam. They were completely on top of the Proteas in the first two days as it looked like another cakewalk by Virat Kohli and Co. But South Africa turned the tables as Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock scored centuries to take the visitors to a comfortable position in the first Test.

South African player Quinton de Kock celebrates after scoring his half century. (PTI)

While Elgar departed after scoring 160 runs, de Kock stayed on to hit a century. He went on to hit 111 runs off 163 balls as South Africa gave a tough fight to the Indian bowlers on the third day. De Kock’s innings was laced with 16 boundaries and 2 sixes as he entered an elite of South African cricketers. De Kock accumulated the second highest score by a Proteas player in his 1st Test innings in India. Top of the list is Andrew Hall who scored 163 runs in Kanpur in 2004.

The morning session though saw the Proteas put up a disciplined show as skipper Faf du Plessis hung in with opener Elgar after Temba Bavuma (18) was dismissed by Ishant Sharma in the seventh over of the day. du Plessis and Elgar showed great determination as the pair posted a fifth-wicket partnership of 115 before the captain was dismissed by Ashwin when he pushed a slow ball straight to Pujara at leg slip.

However, that was not the end of it for India with De Kock then sticking in with Elgar. The pair ended up surpassing the fifth wicket stand between Elgar and his skipper, putting on 164 runs. Jadeja finally provided the breakthrough as Elgar had to walk back at the end of a 287-ball knock on a wicket that was clearly helping the Indian spinners. The knock will give him a lot of confidence going into the rest of the series.