Pune: Virat Kohli scored a career-best 254 not out and moved past 7000 test runs to help India take command on Day 2 of the second match of the series against South Africa on Friday.
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Largely thanks to its captain’s seventh double-century in tests, India declared its first innings on 601-5 and had reduced the Proteas to 36-3 after 15 overs by stumps.
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South Africa, already 1-0 behind in the series, was trailing by 565 runs.
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Kohli moved ahead of compatriots Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, who each scored six, and into joint-fourth on the list for most test double-centuries – level with Wally Hammond (England) and Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka).
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Kohli’s score surpassed his previous best – 243 against Sri Lanka at Delhi in 2017 – and included 33 fours as well as two sixes.
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Kohli put on 225 runs for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (91) off only 237 balls on a painful day’s play for the the South African attack. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (1-196) left the field because of an injured shoulder and went to the local hospital for scans.
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“The way they batted, we were able to get 600 on the board,” said India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. “Both Kohli and Jadeja made it look so easy.”
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Jadeja scored his 12th test half-century and hit eight fours as well as two sixes. India accelerated toward a declaration after tea and despite a triple-century being on the horizon, Kohli called a halt to the innings on his partner’s dismissal.
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In reply, South Africa was stunned by Umesh Yadav, who dismissed openers Aiden Markram (0) and Dean Elgar (6) within four overs.
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Mohammed Shami (1-3) then removed Temba Bavuma (8) as India ran through the Proteas’ top order.
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Theunis de Bruyn (20 not out) and nightwatchman Anrich Nortje (2 not out) were unbeaten at end of play.
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Earlier, Kohli reached his 26th test hundred off 173 deliveries and put on 178 runs for the fourth wicket with Rahane (59).
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On day one, Mayank Agarwal (108) notched up his second test century.
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India leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first test in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs.
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Brief scores:
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1st innings:
India: 601/5d (Virat Kohli 254 not out, Mayank Agarwal 108, Ravindra Jadeja 91, Ajinkya Rahane 59, Cheteshwar Pujara 58; Kagiso Rabada 3/93;
South Africa: 36/3: (Theunis de Bruyn 20 batting, Anrich Nortje 2 batting; Umesh Yadav 2/16)
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