Opener Mayank Agarwal hit a flurry of boundaries in his unbeaten 34 as India made a solid start by reaching 77/1 at lunch despite losing Rohit Sharma early on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa here. Giving Agarwal (34) company was Cheteshwar Pujara on 19 after being dropped on zero off Kagiso Rabada's bowling. The duo added 52 runs for the unbroken second wicket stand.
The South African bowlers hit better lengths during the first session, especially Rabada (1/26 in 10 overs), who got first Test hero Rohit (14 off 35 balls). Rabada bowled a beautiful delivery that pitched on length and moved only a shade to kiss the outside edge of Rohit's bat before going into wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock's gloves. Rabada's first spell was a probing one and he was unlucky to miss out on a second wicket of Pujara when Temba Bavuma, at short leg, missed a reflex catch.
The batsman was yet to get off the mark. Agarwal played smartly and waited for the third seamer, rookie Anrich Nortje (1/27 in 5 overs), to be introduced into the attack. In Maharaj's very first over, Pujara used his feet to strike two elegant on-drives. A third on-drive also came along off Rabada's bowling as the Indian duo completed a 50-run partnership.
