Outclassed Proteas staring down the barrel
Visakhapatnam – Opening batsman Mayank Agarwal (right) completed a double century yesterday as India put South Africa’s bowlers to the sword in the first Test.
Agarwal made 215 out of India’s 502/7 declared.
South Africa then lost cheap wickets before the second day ended, reaching 39/3 at the close, with Ravichandran Ashwin leading a spin rout of the top order.
Ashwin bowled Aiden Markram for five and had Theunis de Bruyn caught behind for four. Nightwatchman Dane Piedt was bowled middle stump by Ravindra without scoring.
Opener Dean Elgar, on 27, and Temba Bavuma, on two, are at the crease, with their side needing another 264 to avoid a follow-on.
Agarwal, 28, put on a record 317-run opening stand with opening partner Rohit Sharma to set the tone for India’s dominance.
The right-hand batsman smashed six sixes and 23 fours in a 371-ball knock, using the reverse sweep to good effect as he made his mark in just his fifth Test.
Agarwal eventually fell to parttime spinner Elgar.
Sharma fell for 176, stumped off Keshav Maharaj before lunch. Sharma, who resumed the day on 115, smashed the ball to all parts of the ground.
India then suffered two quick blows. Cheteshwar Pujara went for six and skipper Virat Kohli for 20.
Paceman Vernon Philander bowled Pujara on the first delivery of the second session. Debutant spinner Senuran Muthusamy had Kohli caught and bowled as his maiden Test wicket.
Jadeja, who made 30 not out, and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who hit 21, gave useful support in building the huge total.
Maharaj took three wickets from 55 overs of left-arm spin and said it was among the “toughest” conditions he had bowled in.
“I think it was probably one of the toughest surfaces I bowled on in terms of it being a lot slower and not biting as much,” said Maharaj.
“Obviously you get slow turn, but I just felt the ball didn’t really kick off the wicket.
“But the cracks have been opening up because of the heat.”
The pitch had started turning as India sent in Ashwin and Jadeja to make quickfire strikes on the South African batsmen. –