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Agarwal, Pujara take India to 168-2 in second Test
PUNE, India, Oct 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara
struck half-centuries as India reached 168 for two at tea on the opening day
of the second Test against South Africa on Thursday.
Agarwal made 86 and Pujara put on 58 for the second wicket after India won
the toss and chose to bat first in Pune.
Paceman Kagiso Rabada took both wickets to fall.
He claimed opener Rohit Sharma — who hit two centuries in the first game
— edging a ball into the gloves of wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for 14 in
the 10th over.
Rabada had Pujara caught by captain Faf du Plessis just before the break.
India skipper Virat Kohli then faced four balls without scoring. Pujara,
who was dropped by Temba Bavuma before he scored, hit a six and nine fours.
Agarwal, who hit a double century in the first Test, took charge of the
batting despite being hit on the helmet from a bouncer by debutant quick
Anrich Nortje.
Agarwal went on to hit Nortje for three glorious off drives in one over
before lunch. He completed his fifth Test half-century in his sixth match
with a boundary off spinner Keshav Maharaj. Victory for India in the series
will see them beat the record of 10 straight home series wins they share with
Australia.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1533 hrs