India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck early to restrict South Africa to 6/1 at stumps after Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara scored a half-century each to drive India to 187 runs in their first innings on Day 1 of the third Test at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. (Highlights)
Pacer Kagiso Rabada led the bowling attack for South Africa, claiming three wickets, while Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Andile Phehlukwayo contributed with two wickets each. Young speedster Lungisani Ngidi dismissed captain Kohli for 54 runs to join the party. (SCORECARD)
Already 2-0 down and facing a series whitewash, India lost eight wickets for 142 runs after lunch. Captain Kohli took a bold decision to bat first on a typically feisty Wanderers pitch.
Skipper Kohli made 54 and Pujara 50, and their 84-run partnership appeared to have lifted India out of trouble when they were 13/2 in the ninth over. The partnership came off 204 balls but India's focus was on survival in a testing start.
It was a temporary reprieve, though, as Kohli fell to a flashing edge to AB de Villiers in the slips having already survived two dropped catches.
Pujara, showing extreme patience to face 53 balls before he scored his first run, also went to an edge behind soon after reaching his half-century.
After that, Parthiv Patel and Hardik Pandya fell to careless shots and India failed to make it to 200 for the third time in five innings this series. India are ranked No. 1 in Test cricket and was on a run of nine straight series victories before that winning form came to a halt against No. 2 South Africa.
For the final Test, South Africa added seamer Andile Phehlukwayo to their team for an out-and-out pace attack on a green, seaming strip in Johannesburg.
The South African quicks worked as a pack, with Kagiso Rabada taking 3/39 and Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel taking two wickets each.
(With AP inputs)
