IND v SA: India Lose Four, Stretch Lead Past 150 At Lunch

An eventful morning session saw India losing four wickets but also stretch the lead to 161 runs on a pitch that is becoming harder and harder to bat. 

Resuming the day at 85/2, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane made full use of the freshly rolled pitch to keep the scoreboard ticking. Pujara reached his fifty in and soon Rahane too reached the landmark. 

The duo added 111 runs from 144 balls before Kagiso Rabada got Rahane out for 58. He soon trapped Pujara in front for 53. With the pitch finally revealing its true signs, the bowling suddenly became harder and harder to play. 

Rishabh Pant tried to play his trademark down the pitch shot against Rabada but got the edge straight to the keeper and departed for an eight-ball-duck. 

R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari added 17 runs in the five overs, in which 16 were scored by the off-spinner. Ashwin tried to touch the ball that was going down the leg and got a fine edge straight to the keeper. 

Shardul Thakur hit his first ball to the boundary as the Lunch was called with the match becoming more and more thriller. 

Brief Scorecard: 

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India - 188/6