SA vs Ind : Mayank Agarwal gets a lifeline as Quinton De Kock drops a catch

In the ongoing Boxing Day test match between India and South Africa at Centurion Indian skipper, Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first.

Ajinkya Rahane gets an opportunity ahead of Shreyas Iyer

Team India has gone with the combination of 5 batsmen + wicketkeeper, leaving out the centurion from the last series Shreyas Iyer out. India’s management has shown faith in former Vice-Captain, Ajinkya Rahane to do the job at Number 5.

The other combination is that the team has gone with 5 bowlers in which Shardul plays as an all-rounder, Ashwin as a prime spinner, and the pace trio of Shami, Jasprit, and Siraj. The team didn’t look to add an extra batsman and went with the all-rounder skills of Shardul at number 7.

Quinton de Kock dropped Mayank’s catch while he was batting at 36 runs

Indian openers Rahul and Mayank have looked very compact. Both openers have tackled the South- Africa pacer very well. South Africa’s pacer Marco Jansen, who is playing his first international test match was punished for his bad length by Mayank as he was smashed for 3 fours in his first over.

After that, the left-arm pacer improved and created a chance to get rid of Mayank while he was batting on 36 runs but eventually South Africa’s keeper Quinton de Kock dropped the catch while flying towards his right.

This incident happened in the 5th over of Marco Jansen spell, ( 18th over of the innings) in which he was punished for two consecutive fours, then he bowled a short of length slanting across which took the outside edge of Mayank’s bat and created a chance for South Africa but unfortunately De Kock dropped it.

The video of the same-

Mayank Agarwal gets a lifeline as Quinton De Kock drops a high catch towards his right. pic.twitter.com/mEcXmxbR7o

— Ankush (@Ankush17424130) December 26, 2021

The commentary of the same

Marco Jansen to Mayank, no run, dropped! Was that Elgar’s catch? de Kock flies across in front of the first slip and only gets it on his fingertips. Short of a length and slanted across, Mayank is squared up as he nibbles at it. The outside edge flies to the right of the keeper and de Kock tries to take the spectacular

Replays show that Elgar is standing too wide at first slip and de Kock had to go for the catch. The slip cordon is pretty spread out since the start and that might have cost South Africa a wicket. Even Elgar was flying to his left to take the catch, so wouldn’t have been straightforward for him too.

Currently, India is 70 runs for no loss after 24 overs. Mayank is moving closer to his fifty and is well-supported by KL Rahul at another end.