Virat Kohli led by example with a batting showcase as India stayed in contention on the third day of the second Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park yesterday.
Kohli hit a masterly 153 in India's first innings of 307 to stay in touch in Centurion, even though South Africa stretched a 28-run first innings lead to 118 by scoring 90 for two in their second spell at bat on a storm-shortened afternoon.
India are slightly behind going into day four despite Kohli's innings and two early wickets from opening bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
Kohli faced 217 balls and hit 15 fours to bring up his 21st Test century to go along with 15 half-centuries, the best conversion rate since Don Bradman.
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 squeeze some extra runs with his tailenders.
Morkel finished with four for 60, taking the last three wickets, including that of Ishant Sharma, who could only fend a vicious bouncer to short leg.
South Africa's second innings got off to a poor start as Bumrah reduced them to three for two.
India had opened the bowling with off-spinner Ashwin and he troubled left-handed opening batsman Dean Elgar. But Elgar survived to share an unbroken 87-run partnership with AB de Villiers (50 not out). Elgar was unbeaten on 36.
A thunderstorm interrupted play for an hour when South Africa were 68 for two. It resumed for another 27 minutes under gloomy skies with the floodlights on before bad light ended the day.
SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH AFRICA: First innings 335
INDIA: First innings 307 all out (Vijay 46, Kohli 153, Patel 19, Ashwin 38; Morkel 4-60)
SOUTH AFRICA: Second innings 90 for 2 (Elgar 36 not out, De Villiers 50 not out; Bumrah 2-30)
