Ranchi: Umpires have called off the first day's play of the third Test between India and South Africa due to bad light. Ranchi's sky was getting darker and the ground has been covered. India ended the day on 224 for 3 in 58 overs with Rohit Sharma (117) and Ajinkya Rahane (83) are at the crease.
However, chances of resuming Saturday's play seems unlikely.
Earlier, winning the toss India got off to their worst ever in the series. However, the morning doesn't always show the day and the Proteas learnt it the hard way as opener Rohit Sharma and Test deputy Ajinkya Rahane made hay in the afternoon session after South Africa had reduced India to 71/3 in the first session of the third Test at the JSCA Stadium on Saturday. While Rohit scored his third hundred of the series, reaching the three-figure mark with a six, Rahane brought up another fifty as the score read 205/3 at Tea.
While Rohit is unbeaten on 108, Rahane is batting on 74. The second session saw the duo score as many as 134 runs with the former also adding another milestone in his kitty. Rohit now has the maximum sixes in a Test series with 17* in this one. He overtook West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer who had 15 sixes to his name against Bangladesh.
Having played out the first session, Rohit changed gears in the second session and with an in-form Rahane for company, the duo looked to take the attack to the South Africa bowlers. While Rohit dealt in boundaries in the second session -- hitting the South Africa spinners into the stands -- Rahane was happy to play along the ground. But he too showed intent as he scored at a good pace.