mobanmarketVisakhapatnam: Rohit Sharma on Saturday struck a second successive hundred in his debut as Test opener to help India set South Africa a daunting 395 to win the opening match of their series.
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The hosts declared their second innings on 323 for four in the final session of day four with skipper Virat Kohli on 31 and Ajinkya Rahane on 27.
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Sharma, who made 176 in India’s first innings of 502 for seven declared, is the first batsman to hit two tons in his first match as a Test opener.
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He also hit 13 sixes, the most in a Test match, breaking Wasim Akram’s record of 12.
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Sharma put on 169 with Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 81, to frustrate South Africa after the loss of opener Mayank Agarwal for seven.
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Pujara was trapped lbw by Vernon Philander after he completed his 21st Test half-century.
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Sharma survived a reprieve on 50 when he was caught at the boundary off Dane Piedt. Replays indicated that fielder Senuran Muthusamy’s foot had touched the rope.
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He was finally stumped off Keshav Maharaj as he attempted a big hit.
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Ravindra Jadeja hit a 32-ball 40 before being bowled by paceman Kagiso Rabada.
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Maharaj struck before lunch, grabbing the key wicket of Agarwal, who hit 215 in the first innings, but the bowlers then struggled.
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Earlier, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin completed a haul of seven wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 431 in the morning session.
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Ashwin got overnight batsman Maharaj out for nine and then trapped Rabada, leaving the Proteas 71 runs behind.
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Scoreboard
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India 1st innings: 502 decl
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South Africa 1st innings: 431 all out
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India 2nd innings
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M. Agarwal c Du Plessis b Keshav Maharaj 7
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R. Sharma st De Kock b Keshav Maharaj 127
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C. Pujara lbw Philander 81
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R. Jadeja b Rabada 40
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V. Kohli Not Out 31
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A. Rahane Not Out 27
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Extras: (8b 2lb) 10
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Total: (67 overs, decl) 323
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Fall of Wickets: 1-21 Agarwal, 2-190 Pujara, 3-239 Sharma, 4-286 Jadeja
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Bowling: Philander 12-5-21-1, Maharaj 22-0-129-2, Rabada 13-3-41-1, Piedt 17-3-102-0, Muthusamy 3-0-20-0
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South Africa 2nd innings
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A. Markram Not Out 3
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D. Elgar lbw Ravindra Jadeja 2
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T. De Bruyn Not Out 5
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Extras (1lb) 1
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Total: (9.0 overs, 1 wkt) 11
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Fall of Wickets: 1-4 Elgar
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Bowling: Ashwin 4-2-7-0, Jadeja 4-2-3-1
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