CENTURION: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took five wickets as India struggled on the first day of the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday. India were 176 for seven at tea after being sent in. Rabada had figures of five for 41 – his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. KL Rahul battled through to the tea break in challenging conditions and was on 39 not out.

India could have been in deeper trouble after being reduced to 24 for three. Both Virat Kohli (38) and Shreyas Iyer (31) were dropped with their scores on four. Kohli and Iyer went on to add 68 for the fourth wicket before both were dismissed in an inspired three-wicket spell by Rabada immediately after lunch.

Iyer was bowled by a ball which cut back off the pitch and Kohli was caught behind off a superb delivery which swung away late. South African captain Temba Bavuma left the field with a strained left hamstring injury before lunch and did not reappear.

A bulletin from the South African dressing room stated that there would be “daily medical evaluations to determine his participation in the match”. The start was delayed by 30 minutes because of damp patches on a pitch which had been under cover for 40 hours before Tuesday morning because of rain. There was plenty of assistance for the bowlers, but only new cap Nandre Burger offered consistent support to Rabada.

At the start South Africa claimed three early wickets but missed what could prove to be two crucial chances on the first morning of the first Test against India in Centurion on Tuesday. India were 91 for three at lunch after being put in to bat with Nandre Burger making an immediate impact on his Test debut, taking two for 23.

Virat Kohli (33 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (31 not out) put on an unbeaten 67 for the fourth wicket after the tourists had been left reeling at 24 for three. Both could have been dismissed on four. Iyer was dropped by Marco Jansen when he slashed Kagiso Rabada to backward point. In the next over Kohli flicked Burger to midwicket and was put down by Tony de Zorzi. Bavuma’s decision to bowl first, on a ground where uneven bounce has been a factor in the later stages of previous matches, appeared to have paid off when three wickets fell in the first hour.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was caught at long leg off Rabada for five. Burger then struck twice, having Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill caught behind for 17 and two respectively. – AFP