KL Rahul held the fort in what turned out to be a tough day for the Indian batters in overcast conditions at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. Star Proteas Pacer Kagiso Rabada was at his lethal best, picking up a fifer on a track offering extra and variable bounce. However, Rahul continued his love affair with Supersport Park, displaying excellent temperament on a difficult pitch taking India to 208 for 8 in 59 overs when rain forced early stumps.

Rabada (5/44 in 17 overs) bowled two of the most intimidating and incisive spells witnessed in recent times to completely rock the Indian batting line-up, which struggled to cope with the conditions.

Had it not been for Rahul, India would have found it tough to cross even the 170-run mark. The six-over cover off left-arm pacer Marco Jansen and the slash over backward point to complete his fifty with a maximum were the stuff of beauty.

Rahul and Shardul Thakur (24) put on 43 for the seventh wicket but Thakur twice needed treatment on the field after being hit on the helmet by Coetzee and his right arm when Rabada returned for his third spell.

Thakur played a loose drive to be caught at mid-off by stand-in captain Dean Elgar immediately after being treated for his second injury.

Rahul batted with composure and added 41 of the 44 runs scored for the loss of Jasprit Bumrah’s wicket after Thakur’s dismissal. When play was halted Rahul had faced 105 balls and hit ten fours and two sixes.