Virat Kohli played a 79-run hand to lead India to 223 runs in the first innings of the Newlands Test vs South Africa on Tuesday. However, the skipper did not receive enough support from the other end as the visitors lost their last six wickets in for 82 runs in the final session. 

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Kohli, who missed the second Test with a back spasm, scored with patience and grit, hitting 12 boundaries and one six during his 201-ball stay at the crease. Cheteshwar Pujara (43) was the other batter who came with up a substantial contribution.

South Africa’s premier pacer, Kagiso Rabada, who was playing his 50th Test, dismissed Kohli with a moving ball outside off-stump. He  ended with four wickets for 73 runs in 22 overs. Tall left-arm pacer Marco Jansen picked up three wickets.

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The Indian lower-order failed to contribute this time, leaving Kohli stranded.

Rishabh Pant (27) was the first to be dismissed in the final session as he tried to cut a ball too close to his body and ended up giving a simple catch to gully.

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Jansen had Ashwin (2) caught behind by getting one to angle away and Shardul Thakur (12) was caught at short cover for spinner Keshav Maharaj’s first wicket of the series.

India got the important wicket of South African skipper Dean Elgar (3) towards close of play with Jasprit Bumrah getting him caught at first slip.

At stumps, the hosts were 17 for one in eight overs with Aiden Markram (8) and night watchman Keshav Maharaj (6) in the middle.