Kohli’s 21st century keeps India in touch with South Africa

Virat Kohli led by example with a batting showcase as India stayed incontention on the third day of the second Test against South Africa atSuperSport Park yesterday.Kohli hit a masterly 153 in India’s first innings of 307 to stay intouch in Centurion, even though South Africa stretched a 28-run firstinnings lead to 118 by scoring 90 for two in their second spell at baton a storm-shortened afternoon.India are slightly behind going into day four despite Kohli’s inningsand two early wickets from opening bowler Jasprit Bumrah, but they couldjustifiably feel that they were still in with a chance of levelling thethree-match series following South Africa’s 72-run win in the firstTest in Cape Town.Kohli had lamented India’s poor batting in Cape Town and he could nothave provided a better demonstration of how to handle South Africa’sfour-pronged pace attack.In a model of concentration, good judgement and occasional breathtakingstrokes, Kohli batted for 380 minutes, faced 217 balls and hit 15 fours.It was his 21st Test century to go along with 15 half-centuries, thebest conversion rate since Don Bradman of any batsman who has passed 50more than 30 times.He was last man out when he was caught in the deep off Morne Morkel,hitting to one of eight fielders on the boundary as he tried to squeezesome extra runs with his tailenders having shown they were ill-equippedto handle fast bowlers wielding the second new ball. Morkel finishedwith four for 60, taking the last three wickets, including that ofIshant Sharma, who could only fend a vicious bouncer to short leg.Kohli received minimal support from his team-mates, with Murali Vijay(46) and Ravichandran Ashwin (38) the only other batsmen to reach thetwenties.Ashwin helped Kohli add 71 off 87 balls for the seventh wicket but helived dangerously after being peppered by short-pitched balls fromKagiso Rabada at the start of his innings.India’s cause was not helped by two needless run-outs. FollowingCheteshwar Pujara’s first-ball dismissal on Sunday, Hardik Pandyastarted off for a risky single when he played the ball to mid-on. He wassent back by Kohli and then committed the cricketing sin of failing toground either his foot or his bat as Vernon Philander’s throw hit thestumps. South Africa’s second innings got off to a poor start as Bumrahreduced them to three for two. Aiden Markam was Bumrah’s first victim,falling leg before wicket as he played back to a ball which cut back andkept low. Bumrah followed up with the wicket of Hashim Amla, who wasalso trapped on the back foot by a similar delivery. Both batsmen wereso palpably in front of their stumps that neither sought a review.India had opened the bowling with off-spinner Ashwin and he troubledleft-handed opening batsman Dean Elgar. But Elgar survived to share anunbroken 87-run partnership with AB de Villiers, who batted confidentlyto be on 50 not out. Elgar was unbeaten on 36.A thunderstorm interrupted play for an hour when South Africa were 68for two. It resumed for another 27 minutes under gloomy skies with thefloodlights on before bad light ended the day. Both batsmen survivedsome anxious moments, in particular Elgar, who on 29 edged Bumrah atcatchable height between wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel and first slipPujara.