Indian skipper Virat Kohli with his bat score 85 runs which took the fight back to South Africa. A very confidence-coated 85 not out that has given India a sliver of hope, but he will rue a lack of support. Vijay's frustrated dismissal at a time when batting conditions had eased out ended a stand of 79 for the third wicket and was followed by the exits of Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel. India will need Kohli and Hardik Pandya to stage a partnership of epic proportions.
Virat Kohli and Vijay had been joined at the crease during the second session, following the loss of two wickets in two balls. A poor shot from KL Rahul undid a watchful opening stand of 28 in the tenth over, when a leaden-footed drive bobbed back to Morne Morkel who took the offer. Cheteshwar Pujara worked the next ball towards mid-on and harried off for a single, only to be run out by the debutant Lungi Ngidi. On a surface not offering much assistance to seam or spin, those two wickets were criminal.
Kohli's positive approach - big strides forward, confident leaves and some purring drives - pushed Kagiso Rabada out of the attack and allowed Vijay to continue his solid resistance. Three of Kohli's five boundaries before tea came off Rabada, and each was pretty: a front-foot drive into the covers, a flick wide of square leg and a steer past gully. The other two came off consecutive deliveries from Morkel, one placed between mid-on and the stumps and the over past extra-cover.Unfortunately for India, when stumps were taken they were 183/5, trailing South Africa by 152 runs, and the home team did not appear particularly worried.