(Cricket news) At the end of day 3 South Africa have the advantage and are looking the most likely team to win. India started day 3 on 85 for 2 with Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara on the crease. The pair made the best possible start with their run scoring intent.
Two of India's most senior batters played a few aggressive strokes and came in with the intent of scoring quick runs. Both reached their half centuries and took India's lead to 128. South African bowlers looked out of place for a while as they failed to trouble the batters. Kagiso Rabada then came through and got a double breakthrough as he produced an edge of Rahane on 58 for Kyle Verreynne to catch before trapping Pujara plum in front. Rishabh Pant came into bat and was hit on the helmet by Rabada while facing his 2nd ball. The next ball Pant hastily came down the track and tried to smash the ball but only managed to nick it. Pant's recklessness put India in a spot of bother at 167 for 5 with a lead of only 140.
Ravichandran Ashwin just like the others tried to get quick runs before edging Lungi Ngidi's ball down the leg side to the keeper. Shardul Thakur in classic Shardul Thakur fashion scored a quickfire 28 at less than a run a ball with powerful shots all over the field. He then gave his wicket away as he pulled Marco Jansen's ball straight to deep square leg. Jansen then got rid of Mohammed Shami and got into a heated confrontation with fromer Mumbai Indians teammate Jasprit Bumrah. Ngidi picked up the wicket of Bumrah shortly after. Hanuma Vihari who had been playing sensibly at the other end, started to play his shots with only one wicket in hand. He got himself to 40 before Ngidi bowled Mohammed Siraj.
Aiden Markram started really aggressively with 240 to chase, playing a range of shots while Dean Elgar was cautious at the other end. While on 20 his edge of Bumrah fell just short of 2nd slip. KL Rahul responded by bringing on 1st innings hero Shardul Thakur straight after the tea break. Markram hit a four off the 2nd ball of Thakur's 2nd over. He then struck Markram on his pads in the 3rd ball but was not given out due to height. The 4th ball was similar but this time was going down the leg side. He beat the outside edge on the 5th ball and struck him plum on the back leg in the last ball to get India the breakthrough.
Keegan Peterson joined his skipper in the middle and added 46 important runs before Ravichandran Ashwin got him out LBW. Rassie van der Dussen then came out to bat. Indian bowlers turned the heat on Elgar and hit him with a lot of body but the Proteas captain fought hard and held on. South Africa ended the day on 118 for 2 with 122 more runs needed with 2 days left. South Africa are favourites now but India have won games from worst situations in the past year with these same set of bowlers. Two early wickets is all it will take for India to get right back in the contest. Dean Elgar looked well winded at the end and it will be interesting to see if he feels the effects of it on day 4. If Elgar and Van der Dussen bat out the first hour it will be difficult for India to bounce back. Day 4 will almost certainly be the last day of this enthralling Test match.
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