KL Rahul pushed India to a commanding position in the first Test of the series with his fifth Test century outside Asia. The visitors take control of the Boxing Day Test when Agarwal scores a half-century.
South Africa’s attack, which was missing Duanne Olivier for some reason, lacked the threat and discipline to cause confusion among the batters on an unusually flat surface.
Many of the doubts that India’s batting had going into the series stemmed from the exceedingly difficult conditions that they almost usually play in. They finished the day at 272 for 3 after getting a nice batting pitch.
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, Bangalore Boxing Day friends, pulled up India’s first century opening partnership in South Africa since 2010
Before Rahul added two 82-run stands with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane each. In the entire day, South Africa only received 60 incorrect responses. A good attack on a decent Test surface should provide at least one over.
KL Rahul made a dismal debut on Boxing Day in 2014, however in the 2018 Boxing Day Test, he was replaced by his friend and Karnataka teammate Agarwal. They found themselves starting together in this Boxing Day Test three years later, and their skipper won the toss to give them first use of a pitch that is most difficult in the first and fourth innings.
Rahul will be the first to admit that Agarwal’s knock was more fluid, but he also had a few more loose balls to begin with
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Even though the early exchanges showed hints of a flat track. Left-armer Marco Jansen debuted with a set of half-volleys, going for three boundaries in the 10th over and giving Agarwal a good start.
This was the time when Rahul’s inconsistent bounce started to bother him. One short ball came to a stop on him. And ascended for a top edge to long leg, but just missed the fielder.
Another leaped to his feet and flew right through the cordon. Despite this, Rahul remained unafraid of the short ball. Preferring to wait for the loose ones, which he continued to get. South Africa elected to bowl Kagiso Rabada for only four overs. In the middle session after taking two quick wickets and had Virat Kohli at the crease.
In the 66th over of the innings, Rahul reached 90 with a four and a six off Keshav Maharaj. Forcing a double change, with Rabada also finished with his post-tea spell. Two maiden overs followed the double change, and Kohli then drove at a wide delivery. Because it was so wide, he did well to beat Ngidi to the first slip.
In the last overs, KL Rahul methodically spent 12 overs in the 90s, taking singles to reach 99. And then square-driving Maharaj for a century in his sixth country. Early in the innings, the under-pressure Rahane found a few Christmas presents. Smashing six boundaries in the first 35 balls he faced. The new ball posed no new threat, and the two batsmen saw India to stumps.
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