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Patna : Rohit Sharma hit his first fifty as a test opener as India reached 91/0 in 30 overs at lunch on Day 1 in the first test against South Africa (SA) at Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Vishakhapatna, on October 2, 2019. Rohit was unbeaten on 52 in 84 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes while his opening partner Mayank Agarwal was batting on 39 in 96 balls with 6 fours and a six. India won the toss and opted to bat.
Rohit, who took guard as an opener for the first time in a test, comfortably cleared the litmus test even as Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander bowled a very good spell moving the ball both ways. Agarwal too played well. Rohit hit a six each off spinners Dane Piedt and Keshav Maharaj. Agarlwal also hit Piedt for a six. South Africa have included three spinners in the side. The third spinner is Senuran Muthusamy.
Rohit, whose previous highest against South Africa was 47, was out for a duck as an opener in a three-day match between BPXI and South Africa recently. But, he clicked as a test opener on October 2 hitting Rabada for a four in his first over.