New Delhi: A resilient Ajinkya Rahane ensured that India reach 231/7 at the end of the first day of the fourth and final test between India and South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi today.
Rahane's unbeaten on 89 off 155 balls with nine fours and two sixes is the highest individual score of the series so far.
Sounth Africa's Paceman Abbott was the pick of the bowlers as he ended the day with figures of 3-23 off 17 overs while offspinner Piedt impressed as he grabbed 4-101 as the pair helped reduce India to 139-6 at one stage.
Rahane brought up his eighth test half-century, his first in India, off 91 balls but he did have a life when he was dropped Hashim Amla at first slip when his score was 78. Rahane was unbeaten at 89 when bad light forced an early close to the day's proceedings.
India 139/6 at tea against SA
India were batting at 139/6 at tea on the first day of their fourth and final cricket Test against South Africa being played at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Thursday.
Middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane was batting at 31 while wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha fell on the last ball of the second session for a single.
Captain Virat Kohli was the top-scorer for the hosts with 44.
Off-spinner Dane Piedt was the pick of the South African bowlers, scalping four wickets, while pacer Kyle Abbot picked up two.
India 60/1 at lunch against SA
India posted 60/1 at lunch on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here on Thursday.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease at the break.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, India were off to a slow start with South African pacers Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott keeping a tight line.
Indian openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan struggled to negotiate the nagging line and length, inching their way to 29 in the first 15 overs.
Vijay was lucky to get a reprieve on a personal score of 10 when he nicked an outgoing delivery from Abott to AB de Villiers at second slip which was adjudged to be a no-ball.
The Tamil Nadu batsman suffered a nasty blow when he was surprised by the extra bounce of an Abbott delivery. The ball reared up from around the good length spot and brushed his gloves before hitting Vijay on the abdomen.
Off-spinner Dane Piedt gave the visitors the breakthrough when Vijay edged one to South Africa captain Hashim Amla in the slips.
Dhawan, who has struggled throughout the series was in much better form on the day. The left-hander hit several of boundaries, including an elegant drive through the covers off Morkel.
Pujara, one of the most successful Indian batsmen in this series, continued his fine form at the other end. A bit cautious at the start of his innings, Pujara grew more confident as the innings wore on, smashing a full toss from leg-spinner Imran Tahir for a six in the last over before lunch.
India win toss, elect to bat against SA
India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here on Thursday.
India decided to go in with an extra pacer in the form of fast bowler Umesh Yadav who replaced the leg-spinner Amit Mishra.
South Africa brought in Dane off-spinner Dane Piedt in place of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Stiaan van Zyl made way for rookie batsman Temba Bavuma.
The teams:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla (captain), AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Dane Vilas (wicketkeeper), Dane Piedt, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel.
