De Villiers puts South Africa ahead after Kohli's 153
Two of the modern game’s most gifted strokeplayers lit up proceedings at SuperSport Park before a heavy storm and then bad light meant that only 60.1 overs were possible on the third day of the second Test.
Virat Kohli struck a sensational 153 to get India within 28 of South Africa's first-innings total and then, with the hosts in dire straits in the second innings, AB de Villiers – Kohli’s ‘brother from another mother’ – came out and stroked a fabulous half-century. When they went off at 16.45 local time, with 27 overs still to be bowled, South Africa were 90/2, holding a lead of 118.
When play started in the morning, with Vernon Philander uncharacteristically giving away four byes down the leg-side, the task in front of India was pretty clear. Kohli, unbeaten on 85, and his partner Hardik Pandya had to bat as long as they could to get India within range of South Africa’s 335. With Faf du Plessis opting to use Lungi Ngidi from the other end, Kohli set off on that pursuit with a guide to third man and a sublime cover drive.
So pumped up was he that he ended up celebrating his century twice. After tapping a single on to the leg-side, he flailed his bat in the air before realising that there was an overthrow on offer as well. Once that was completed, celebration part deux. It was the first hundred of the series, and it took him just 146 balls.
With India in control of proceedings on the stroke of drinks, Pandya’s brain fade gave the hosts a route back. He stroked the ball to mid-on, and took off, only for Kolhi to rightly turn the single down. Pandya took his own sweet time to return to the crease, and was caught cold by a direct hit from Philander to leave his side 209/5.
Kagiso Rabada greeted R Ashwin with three straight bouncers, the third of which struck him a painful blow on the thumb. But instead of going into his shell, Ashwin responded with some sensational shots. One Rabada over featured two lovely square drives sandwiching a back-foot punch through cover.
When he was on 23, de Villiers claimed a low catch at gully, but TV replays upheld the umpire’s not-out signal. After the drinks break, Kohli took charge, with a whiplash square cut off Keshav Maharaj and a neat flick for four off Rabada. On a pitch where there had been precious little assistance for the bowlers, the new ball was always going to be crucial and so it proved.
Philander took it after 81 overs, and Kohli again showcased his wondrous timing with a cover drive. But the first ball that Ashwin faced was wide outside off stump and moving away. He flashed at it, and du Plessis held a sharp chance well above his head. That ended a partnership of 71 off just 87 balls, and left Kohli with only the pace bowlers for company.
Mohammed Shami edged Morné Morkel to Hashim Amla at first slip, but Kohli carried on regardless, threading a four through the covers off Philander even as eight men patrolled the rope. After lunch, which was taken at 287/8, a stunning pull for four off Morkel took him past 150. Ishant Sharma hung around doggedly to help him add 25 before popping one up to short leg, and Kohli’s attempt to farm the strike finally ended when he miscued a straight loft off Morkel.
His 153 had taken just 217 balls, and half a dozen South African fielders ran to him as they walked off to acknowledge what a special effort it had been. It was his second hundred in South Africa, and 21st in Test cricket overall.
Clearly lifted by the captain’s epic 379-minute innings, India made immediate inroads with the ball. After Ashwin was thrown the new ball, both Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla had no answer to inswingers from Jasprit Bumrah that skidded on to their pads. At 3/2, South Africa needed heroics. De Villiers provided them, and his presence helped Dean Elgar find some form as well.
De Villiers glanced the first ball he faced for four, and followed it up with a couple of splendid square drives when offered width. He freed South Africa from the Ashwin stranglehold by cutting him for four, and Elgar followed suit by clipping the off-spinner through mid-wicket and then sweeping for four.
The shot of the session, though, was a de Villiers on-drive off Ishant. The tempo was maintained after tea as Elgar lofted Ashwin for six. But then the rain came down and kept the players off for another break. In the 25 minutes of play possible after that, de Villiers eased to a 78-ball 50. But with Bumrah troubling the batsmen under overcast skies, the umpires took them off, much to Kohli’s chagrin. Despite his considerable effort, India were still chasing the game.
