ZCZC
BSP-12
CRICKET-IND-RSA LEAD
Sharma ton fires India to 205-3 in third S.Africa Test
RANCHI, India, Oct 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Opener Rohit Sharma hit his third
century of the series to lead India’s charge after they lost early wickets
against South Africa in the third Test on Saturday.
Sharma, on 108, combined with Ajinkya Rahane, on 74, to put on an unbeaten
166-run stand after the hosts were wobbling at 39-3 following their decision
to bat first in Ranchi.
India reached 205 for three at tea with Sharma and Rahane making sure they
denied the opposition bowlers any wickets in the second session.
Kagiso Rabada took two early wickets and fellow paceman Anrich Nortje
claimed his maiden Test scalp after getting India skipper Virat Kohli trapped
lbw for 12.
Sharma, who hit twin centuries in his debut game as an opening batsman at
the start of the three-match series, then steadied the innings along with
Rahane, who completed his 21st Test fifty.
Sharma played it cool till his fifty and soon launched an attack with a
barrage of sixes, reaching his sixth Test hundred with his fourth hit over
the fence amid loud applause from the home crowd.
In the morning session, India lost Mayank Agarwal, for 10, and Cheteshwar
Pujara, for nought, to Rabada’s pace and slipped to 16 for two.
Rabada nearly got his third when Sharma was judged lbw by the on-field
umpire when the opener was on seven.
But Sharma successfully reviewed the decision as replays clearly showed the
batsman got an inside edge off the bat before the ball hit the pads.
Kohli reviewed a leg-before call but tracking technology showed the ball
would have grazed the leg stump.
After losing nine coin tosses in consecutive matches, Proteas captain Faf
du Plessis brought on his deputy Temba Bavuma to end the poor run.
It was not enough and South Africa lost its 10th flip on the trot in Asian
Tests — the third of the series.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1609 hrs