Rohit Sharma scored his third century of the series as normal service resumed in the second session of the third Test between India and South Africa.
Sharma (108 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane scored at more than five an over after lunch to regain some parity in the match following a good start by the Proteas in the morning session. After going into the lunch break at 71-3, the pair piled on the runs in the second session at a blistering rate to see India to 205-3 at tea.
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The pair added 134 runs in 28 overs, with Sharma, especially, cutting loose following a cautious start after India lost Mayank Agarwal, No 3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli in the opening session.
The Proteas’ bowlers didn’t capitalise on the platform set in the first session. They weren’t as accurate and as threatening when the ball got older, but Sharma is also batting on another level at the moment.
He dominated the bowling and went from 11 runs to his century in just 90 balls. Rahane (74 not out) has also played fluently and both players will be looking to cash in after tea.
India: Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), George Linde, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.
Photo: Gallo Images
