Centurion (South Africa): Left-handed batter Dean Elgar starred on the second day of the first Test between India and South Africa as he smashed an unbeaten century (140 not out) to take the hosts in a comfortable position on Wednesday.
It was the Elgar show, who so far has hammered 23 boundaries in his 230-ball knock so far. He found able alley in debutant David Bedingham (56), who notched up his maiden fifty. But the batter soon perished after completing his fifty as he was castled by pacer Mohammed Siraj (2/63).
India tried to make a comeback in the final session by picking two wickets - one of Bedingham and of Kyle Verreynne (4) but it was Elgar with his elegant strokeplay ensured that South Africa took the lead and ended the day at a strong 256 for 5 in reply to India's first innings total of 245 all out. South Africa is leading by 11 runs.
Elgar, who completed his 14 Test ton, took on the Indian bowlers with gusto. The southpaw played round the park. When stumps were drawn, Elgar had Marco Jansen (3 not out) for company. Earlier, India started the day from 208 for 8 with KL Rahul heading towards his century by the end of the play.
The India wicket-keeper-batter continued his brilliant strokeplay on the second day and completed a well-deserved hundred with the lower order batters stitching small partnerships with him. Rahul broke a few record s during his resilient hundred and Indian side ended up scoring 245 runs in the first innings.
Then pacers Jasprit Bumrah (2/48) and Mohammed Siraj bowled an impressive opening spell during the South African innings and the latter dismissed Aiden Markram (5) cheaply.
However, southpaw Dean Elgar got into the grove after playing out the initial spell from the Indian pace duo. No other Indian bowler except for the duo looked lethal as Elgar advanced towards his century with utmost ease. Bumrah sent back one-down Tony de Zorzi (28) and Keegan Petersen (2) in quick succession but David Bedingham played his role to perfection. At tea, South Africa was on 194 for 3.
On the third day, Elgar would surely be eyeing a double hundred and South Africa would be looking to extend the lead. India pacer Prasidh Krishna got his first Test wicket in the form of Kyle Verreynne, who was caught by KL Rahul, while pacer Shardul Thakur (0/57) and seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (0/19) remained wicket-less.
Brief Scores: India: 245 all out in 67.4 overs (KL Rahul 101, Kagiso Rabada 5/59, Nandre Burger 3/50). South Africa: 256 for 5 in 66 overs (Dean Elgar 140 batting; David Bedingham 56; Jasprit Bumrah 2/48, Mohammed Siraj 2/63).
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