Dean Elgar’s unbeaten 140 helps Proteas surge ahead on Day 2 at Centurion

Dean Elgar struck a memorable century in his final appearance at his home ground as South Africa surged ahead of India on Day 2 of the first Test in Centurion on Wednesday.

Elgar remained unbeaten on 140 off 211 deliveries, bringing up his 14th Test hundred in what will be his penultimate appearance in a Proteas jersey as South Africa reached 256/5 with a lead of 11 runs before bad light forced the umpires to declare stumps earlier than scheduled.

As it happened: India vs South Africa, 1st Test at Centurion, Day 2

Elgar’s ton, which was laced with 23 boundaries, is his first at the SuperSport Park — his home ground. Along the way, he stitched important partnerships with Tony de Zorzi (28) and David Bedingham (56) worth 93 and 131 respectively, the latter bringing up his half-century on international debut along the way.

Elgar, though, wasn’t the only individual to bring up the three-figure mark on Wednesday. India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul would bring up his eighth Test hundred in the morning session after resuming from his overnight score of 70.

Read | Rahul’s gutsy ton earns him social media praise, special distinction

Rahul collected runs at a quick clip in the morning session before becoming the last Indian batter to fall, getting bowled by Nandre Burger to depart for 101 as India were bowled out for 245 after being invited to bat by Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma. Rahul’s ton was his second in successive Tests at Centurion, having scored 123 in the 2021-22 tour in a winning cause.

Two late wickets kept India in the game, especially as there was no sign that South African captain Temba Bavuma would bat after suffering a hamstring strain on the first day.

There was no update on his condition from the South African dressing room but he remained in his tracksuit while other batsmen took their turns to pad up.

Elgar, 36, who has announced he will retire from international cricket after the second Test in Cape Town next week, had to survive a challenging start against Indian new ball bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

But the left-handed opening batsman blossomed with some of the most fluent stroke play of his career when India surprisingly did not use the two strike bowlers immediately after lunch.

Elgar reached his fifty off 79 balls with ten fours and his 14th Test century was made off 140 deliveries with nine more boundaries. His scoring rate slowed as he went on the defensive in increasingly poor light before play was called off. He had faced 211 balls and hit 23 fours.

Bedingham, 29, has played English county cricket for Durham since 2020 and there was speculation that he would attempt to qualify for England.

But new South African Test coach Shukri Conrad called him up for the Test squad and he looked comfortable from the start of his innings

A tall right-hander, he went into his debut Test with a solid average of 49.51 compiled over 86 First-Class matches, 44 of them for Durham. He hit seven fours and two sixes in an 87-ball innings while helping Elgar add 131 for the fourth wicket.

South Africa added 145 runs for the loss of two wickets in 33 overs in an afternoon session extended to make up for overs lost in a rain-hit first day.

But India came back strongly after tea, with Siraj bowling Bedingham with a full delivery and debutant Prasidh Krishna claiming a first Test wicket when Kyle Verreynne flashed outside his off stump to be caught behind.

Brief scores:

India 245 all out in 67.4 overs (KL Rahul 101; Kagiso Rabada 5/59, Nandre Burger 3/50) trail South Africa 256/5 in 66 overs (Dean Elgar 140*, David Bedingham 56; Jasprit Bumrah 2/48) by 11 runs.

With AFP inputs