Second Test against South Africa: India post 53/3 at lunch

The first session belonged to the hosts South Africa in their must-win Test to keep the three-match series alive. Marco Jensen got an early breakthrough before Duanne Olivier ensured India stayed on the back foot.

Mayank Agarwal got India off the mark with a boundary on the fourth ball of the second over. Olivier and Kagiso Rabada tried to dry up the runs but stand-in captain KL Rahul found two back-to-back boundaries in the first hour of the play.

Jensen drew the first blood on the first ball after drinks break. As Mayank was trying to drive the ball, he got an outside edge and wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne caught him in front of his face.

It was Quinton de Kock’s sudden retirement that gave Verreynne an opportunity to don the gloves for South Africa.

South Africa continued to bowl superbly in the first session, with fast bowlers making the Indians work hard to earn the runs. This South African attack looked comparatively better here than at Centurion in the first Test.

While KL Rahul carried his art of leaving the ball well, the other end saw two more dismissals. Oliver struck for South Africa, removing struggling Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane on consecutive balls.

Pujara (3) tried to defend but the ball hit the shoulder of the bat and Temba Bavuma accepted a dolly at the point region. Oliver picked his 50th Test wicket as Rahane (0) got outside edge and Keegan Petersen caught him at gully.

Rahul and Hanuma Vihari saw off the remaining overs leading to lunch, with Rahul unbeaten on 19 and Vihari on 4 not out.

Vihari came in the playing XI after regular captain Virat Kohli was ruled out of the second Test just before the start of the game. Kohli missed out due to an upper back spasm. The BCCI in a statement revealed that he will be monitored during the course of this Test match.