The tormentors for India were spinner Dane Piedt (4/101 in 34 overs), playing his first Test of the series, and pacer Kyle Abott (3/23 in 17 overs), who was economical as well as incisive with his swing bowling as South Africa sent down 84 overs during the day.
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Ajinkya Rahane notched up his first century in India on the second day at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Friday (December 4), as what has been a thankless series for South Africa continued.
Rahane’s ton also happens to be the first of the on-going India-South Africa Test series.
Rahane’s innings included nine boundaries and two sixes.
The skipper crashed a full-blooded sweep into Temba Bavuma at short-leg only to see the ball balloon up and wicketkeeper Dane Vilas dive in front of him to make the catch.
Piedt played a solitary Test against Zimbabwe in August 2014 before sustaining a problem which sidelined him for eight months, returning to take four wickets before play was ended early due to bad light on Thursday.
Kohli’s exit precipitated a mini-collapse of three for three, but if India felt that was a sign it was not their day, Rahane failed to read the script as he studiously set about piecing the innings together with an unbeaten 89.
“The more I compete with the batsmen and the more overs I get to bowl, it will end up with me taking wickets for the team”.
Ashwin, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 24, showed his skill with the bat as well, reaching his sixth Test half-century.
Rahane was dismissed for a gritty 127 after AB de Villiers caught his catch on Imran Tahir’s delivery.
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Despite ending a solid 98-run stand, South Africa’s woes were far from over as Umesh Yadav put on a stubborn fight from one end while Ashwin continued to pile on the runs from the other.
