Twitter Reactions: Rishabh Pant sizzles with a sparkling century before controversy takes centre stage in Cape Town

Rishabh Pant took the South African bowling attack by the scruff of the neck and smashed a scintillating 100* off just 139 deliveries.

By R Sai Siddhharth

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Rishabh Pant
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Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

It seemed as if Rishabh Pant was batting on a different pitch and all the other Indian batters were batting on a different one. The left-hander took the South African bowling attack by the scruff of the neck and smashed a scintillating 100* off just 139 deliveries to help India set the Proteas a target of 212 for victory.

However, the left-hander received no support from his teammates. In fact, Pant scored more than fifty percent of the runs scored by the Indian side, as the Virat Kohli-led outfit was bowled out for a total of 198 in their second essay.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane fall cheaply

Veteran batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane produced disappointing performances with the willow on Day 3. Pujara fell in the very first over of the day as Keegan Petersen pouched a stunner at leg slip. Marco Jansen bowled a short delivery, and Pujara fended at it. The ball took the glove and Petersen flew to his right and grabbed a one-handed stunner, as Pujara walked back for just 9.

Ajinkya Rahane departed in the very next over. Kagiso Rabada bowled a short delivery that took off, catching Rahane by surprise. The ball hit his glove, and Dean Elgar held on to a comfortable catch.

The Rishabh Pant show

And then, came the Rishabh Pant show. Pant was in the mood for destruction and played some cracking shots. Pant opened his account with a sizzling pull shot off Kagiso Rabada that raced to the boundary, and when the pacer bowled a wide delivery on the offside, the left-hander cut him fiercely past point.

Both Kohli and Pant put on a splendid partnership of 94 runs for the fifth wicket. And, Kohli had once again given priority to patience. However the 143rd ball that he faced proved to be Kohli’s undoing. Kohli flashed at a wide delivery outside off stump, and Aiden Markram took a sharp catch at slip.

However, Kohli’s departure did not stop Pant. When Duanne Olivier bowled full, Pant just deposited him over mid-on for six. The left-hander reached his century with a single to deep square leg. The Indian innings came to a close when Marco Jansen scalped the wicket of Bumrah, and Pant remained unbeaten on 100.

South Africa produce a solid reply

South Africa produced a solid performance in reply. Aiden Markram departed after contributing 16 to the total as Mohammed Shami scalped the first wicket. However, Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen put on a partnership of 78 runs, but India struck back at the fag end of the day when Bumrah removed Elgar. The day was not without drama, as Dean Elgar’s LBW decision was overturned, which left the Indian players angry. South Africa ended the day with their scorecard reading 101/2, and are still 111 runs away from victory.

Here are the reactions from Twitter

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