Visakhapatnam:India were 202/0 after rain forced early stumps against South Africa when Rohit Sharma went on rampage to score his first ton as opener on day one of the first Test here at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.At stumps Rohit 115 off 174 (12 fours 5 sixes) and Mayank 84 off 183 (11 fours 2 sixes) remained unbeaten.
Earlier, skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat against Proteas. In the first session South African bowlers took the opportunity to trouble the Indian batsmen for brief spell, but as second session started Rohit and Mayank played fearlessly. Rohit went on to complete his half century before lunch and did not spare the spinners, on the other side Mayank also chipped in and scored half century in the afternoon session when he hit Keshav Maharaj for a six at extra cover.
The umpires were forced to take tea break early after clouds hovered over the stadium towards the end of the session.South Africa roped in spinners Maharaj, Piedt and Muthusamy hoping the pitch to turn.
Rohit completed his 11th Test half-century towards the end of the session when he mistimed a sweep but fortunately it was not in the reach of the fielder and went for a four.Getting to his fifty opened the shackles for Rohit and he scored at a brisk rate thereafter.He hammered off-spinner Danie Piedt for successive sixes over deep midwicket to get into the nineties before completing his fourth Test ton with a single off debutant spinner Senuran Muthusamy. (UNI)
