VIDEO: Rohit hits double ton as India take command of third Test
Rohit Sharma plays a shot against South Africa during day two of the third Test in Ranchi on Sunday. AFP
Rohit Sharma struck his maiden double century in Test cricket while Ajinkya Rahane ended his three-year wait for a Test ton at home as India declared on 497/9 and reduced South Africa to 9/2 before bad light brought an early end to the second day’s play in the third Test against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.
Rohit described his maiden Test double century as “most challenging” after he lifted India out of early trouble and put the hosts in command of the match. After the Rohit-Rahane show, Ravindra Jadeja hit a composed half-century while Umesh Yadav smashed a whirlwind 10-ball 31 to swell India’s first innings total.
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis (1 batting) and Zubayr Hamza (0 batting) were at the crease in a rejigged batting order before bad light stopped play shortly after Tea, much like the first day.
Quinton de Kock, who is not donning the wicketkeeping gloves in this game, opened the batting along with Dean Elgar after Aiden Markram was ruled out of the tie due to an injury. Elgar (0) was caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha off Mohammed Shami, while de Kock (4) too met a similar fate off Umesh’s bowling to leave the Proteas reeling at 8/2.
In the first session, Ajinkya Rahane notched up his 11th Test hundred.
However, the day belonged to Rohit who reached the 200-run milestone with a six over mid-wicket off pacer Lungi Ngidi in the third over after lunch to receive a standing ovation from the home crowd. Rohit was finally dismissed for 212 off 255 balls (4x28, 6x6), when his mis-timed pull off Kagiso Rabada landed in the hands of Ngidi in deep fine-leg.
In the process, Rohit became the fourth batsman to hit a double hundred both in Test and ODI cricket, emulating Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle.
Overnight batsmen Rohit and Rahane continued from where they had left, stitching together a 267-run fourth wicket stand before Rahane (115 off 192 balls; 4x17; 6x1) was caught behind by debutant wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen off fellow first-timer George Linde who scalped his first Test wicket and went on to finish with figures of 4/133.
Rahane, who was batting on 83, brought up his century off 169 balls.
At the other end, Rohit continued to shine as an opener in the longest format as he reached 150 off 199 deliveries after resuming on 117.
After Rahane’s dismissal, Jadeja joined Rohit who moved to the 190s from 150 in no time.
Jadeja extended his purple patch with the bat with a second consecutive fifty but fell just after achieving the landmark, caught behind off Linde for 51 off 119 deliveries, his knock studded with four fours.
Saha (24) was castled by Linde while Ravichandran Ashwin managed 14 before Umesh plundered five sixes in his entertaining cameo to take the total close to 500. Umesh was finally removed by Linde, who was hit big by the pacer, as he skied the ball for ‘keeper Klaasen to complete the catch.
Besides Linde, pace spearhaead Rabada took three wickets. India lead the three-match series 2-0.
Scoreboard at stumps on Sunday:
India 1st innings (overnight 224-3, R. Sharma 117, A Rahane 83)
M Agarwal c Elgar b Rabada 10
R Sharma c Ngidi b Rabada 212
C Pujara lbw b Rabada 0
V Kohli lbw b Nortje 12
A Rahane c Klaasen b Linde 115
R Jadeja c Klaasen b Linde 51
W Saha b Linde 24
R Ashwin st Klaasen b Piedt 14
U Yadav c Klaasen b Linde 31
S Nadeem not out 1
M Shami not out 10
Total (9 wickets dec, 116.3 overs) 497
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-16, 3-39, 4-30, 5-370, 6-417, 7-450, 8-464, 9-482
Bowling: Rabada 23-7-85-3 (nb1), Lungi 20-5-83-0, Nortje 24.3-5-79-1, Linde 31-2-133-4, Piedt 18-3-101-1
South Africa 1st innings
D Elgar c Saha b Shami 0
Q de Kock c Saha b Yadav 4
Z Hamza not out 0
F du Plessis not out 1
Total (2 wickets, 5 overs) 9
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-8
Bowling: Shami 1-1-0-1, Yadav 1-0-4-1, Nadeem 2-2-0-0, Jadeja 1-0-1-0
