KL Rahul’s patient century helped India take a commanding position in the first Test, as they moved to 272 for 3 at Stumps on Day 1 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.

India’s decision to bat on a wicket that had ample assistance for the pacers worked out well, with the new-ball pair of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi squandering the chance by not attacking the stumps enough in the first half an hour of play – either straying a bit too wide or a bit too short. Rahul and Mayank Agarwal’s patience was tested but they were content, and with good application, to not fiddle with deliveries outside off.

At the same time, they were quick to latch on to the scoring opportunities, especially Mayank who was severe against debutant left-arm pacer Marco Jansen, without taking any risks. Jansen did have a chance to dismiss Mayank in the 18th over, when he caught the outside edge of his bat, but Quinton de Kock couldn’t hold on to the catch despite making a good diving effort to his right.

The opening duo played out the testing morning session without damage and went on to stitch 117-run stand – the seventh century-partnership for Indian openers outside Asia this year, a feat they hadn’t achieved all of last decade.

South Africa’s decision to leave out Duanne Olivier seemed to backfire with the pacers not putting the Indian batters under pressure. Ngidi was the only bowler to return with wickets – scalping all three to fall on the day.

On a day dominated by the Indian batters, there was a brief moment in which the hosts managed to claw back, with Ngidi dismissing Mayank and Cheteshwar Pujara off successive deliveries. The opener was struck on his pads while playing across. Even as the on-field umpire declared him not out, the decision was overturned on review.

Pujara’s poor run with the bat continued as he inside edged the first ball on to his pads, which lobbed in the air and was caught by a forward diving Keegan Petersen at forward short leg. From that moment of Pujara’s second career golden duck (both at Centurion) South Africa tried to build pressure but a watchful stand by Rahul and Virat Kohli saw India through that.

The duo stitched an 82-run stand before Kohli ran out of patience after a series of dot balls and went for an expansive drive. The ball caught the outside edge of his bat and was pouched safely at slips by Wiaan Mulder.

The out of form Ajinkya Rahane could have well followed that route when he attempted a similar shot of the second ball of his stay. The uppish drive was in the air for quite a while, but went through a vacant area. However, he got through the early period of his stay safely with the older ball not causing as much trouble.

Rahul also made good use of that period. Having started slowly, he unleashed a bit of his wristy and power game to pick quick runs en route his seventh Test century.

However, once the hosts took the second new ball, it started zipping again, and even offered some uneven bounce. But much like with the first new ball, South Africa kept tempting the Indian batters outside the off, but not with much success. Rahul and Rahane added 73 runs more to help the visitors to retain their strong position in the match. (Cricbuzz)

INDIA 1st innings
Lokesh Rahul Not Out 122
Mayank Agarwal lbw Lungi Ngidi 60
Cheteshwar Pujara c Keegan Petersen b Lungi Ngidi 0
Virat Kohli c Wiaan Mulder b Lungi Ngidi 35
Ajinkya Rahane Not Out 40
Extras 4b 4lb 7nb 0pen 0w 15
Total (90.0 overs) 272-3
Fall of Wickets : 1-117 Agarwal, 2-117 Pujara, 3-199 Kohli
To Bat : Pant, Ashwin, Thakur, Shami, Bumrah, Siraj
Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 20 – 5 – 51 – 0 (7nb), Lungi Ngidi 17 – 4- 45 – 3,
Marco Jansen 17 – 4 – 61 – 0, Wiaan Mulder 18- 3 – 49 – 0, Keshav Maharaj 18 2 58 0 3.22