Kohli hits 26th Test hundred as India reach 356 for 3 at lunch on day 2
Pune: Skipper Virat Kohli blended grace with sheer determination on way to his 26th Test hundred, leading India to 356 for 3 at lunch on day two of the second Test against South Africa here on Friday.
Kohli, during his unbeaten 104, was an epitome of concentration and with the dependable vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (58 batting) for company, grinded the South African attack in the wicketless session that could well give India the decisive upperhand in the game.
A beautiful straight drive off Vernon Philander brought up Indian captain's 69th international hundred and the celebration was more about contentment than elation. Not for once did he look in any sort of hurry to complete the milestone as he respected the good deliveries.
The Kohli-Rahane duo added 158 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand and South Africa will certainly feel dejected as their bowlers put up a good show even though the scoreboard suggested otherwise. While Kohli's 183-ball innings had 16 fours, Rahane also had eight hits to the fence in 161 deliveries.Kagiso Rabada (3/65 in 24 overs) and Vernon Philander (0/54 in 24 overs), for the second day in a row, bowled a probing first spell without much luck.
Credit to the India skipper and his deputy for the manner in which they negotiated the first hour.
Kohli, in particular, was leaving anything that Rabada bowled on the off-stump channel for the first few overs. The only blemish was fishing at an away swinger from Philander, which a diving wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock failed to latch on to.
The bowler's back-drive off Rabada came soon after as Kohli started opening up. Anrich Nortje also again tried to bowl short but Kohli played his trademark short-arm pull in-front of the wicket.
Kohli entered into the 90's by deliberately opening the face of his bat and using the pace in Nortje' delivery to get a boundary in the third man region.
Nortje's extra pace was also well-utilised by Rahane also as he rode the bounce to play a couple of square cuts. Having survived a DRS appeal off Keshav Maharaj's innings, Rahane finally completed his 20th half-century with a single off Nortje's bowling.
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Goa Liberation Day: CM Sawant urges industries, citizens to keep state clean, serene
Panaji (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday appealed to industries and citizens to keep the coastal state clean and ensure that its beauty and serenity remain intact.
Addressing the state-level ‘Goa Liberation Day’ parade near Panaji, Sawant said maintaining cleanliness in the state is essential for the growth of the tourism sector.
The CM inspected the parade and took the guard of honour after unfurling the tricolour, in the presence of cabinet ministers and other guests.
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The state government has commissioned waste management plants to treat e-waste and hazardous waste, he said.
“I appeal to all industries not to dispose of their waste on the roadside in an unscientific manner. Facilities exist to treat all kinds of waste, and these should be used to keep Goa clean,” he said.
The chief minister said that citizens should shoulder the responsibility of keeping the state clean to retain its beauty and serenity.
He also urged the locals to work towards realising the visions of ‘Vikasit Bharat’ (Developed India) and ‘Vikasit Goa’ (Developed Goa).
Sawant thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre for “contributing in a big way to the development of the state”.
The Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 every year to mark the success of 'Operation Vijay' undertaken by the armed forces to liberate the state from the Portuguese in 1961.
