India vs South Africa 3rd Test: Dangerous pitch forces early stumps on Day 3, SA 17/1 chasing 241 to win

Mohammed Shami being congratulated by skipper Virat Kohli (Reuters)

India scored a fighting 247 in their second innings to set a 241-run target for South Africa to win the third Test, but the hosts were 17/1 when uneven bounce forced early stumps on the third day a Wanderers.(SCORECARD)

26 January 2018

21:10 PM

The umpires have called stumps on day three after the two captains and the umpires consulted the match referee over the misbehaving pitch. South Africa are 17/1 chasing 241 to win the Test. Dean Elgar (11*) and Hashim Amla (2*) are on the crease as an interesting day's play awaits. For today, that is it from us. Do join us back tomorrow. 

20:52 PM

The covers have been brought on as slight drizzle followed the stoppage drama around the dangerous nature of the Wanderers pitch. There's no official word yet on whether play will resume today or not. Stay tuned for the latest. 

20:05 PM

First wicket for India and Mohammed Shami does the job, clearly parlaying his success with the bat into his bowling now. The ball jumped a little on Aiden Markram (4) and he couldn't help but edge to Parthiv Patel behind the wickets. South Africa 5/1 in pursuit of 241 runs. 

19:45 PM

The new ball brings in the departure of Jasprit Bumrah for a duck. Vernon Philander takes his third wicket as Bumrah finds Kagiso Rabada at midwicket after attempting to hit the bowler out of the park. India 247 all out and South Africa now need 241 to win this Test match. The batsmen have done their job and it's now over to the bowlers, who have been in excellent form all through the series. India will back themselves to defend this total and salvage some pride after crushing defeats in Cape Town and Centurion. 

19:32 PM

Morkel strikes for the third time. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's dogged innings comes to an end for 33. India 240/9, lead South Africa by 233 runs.

19:21 PM

There goes down the eighth wicket for India. Mohammed Shami hits Lungi Ngidi straight into the hands of AB de Villiers at deep mid-wicket. He made 27, could be a very important contribution in the context of the match. India 238/8, lead South Africa by 231 runs. Virat Kohli and Co. will now feel much better about their chances in this Test match.

19:05 PM

Another six from the bat of Mohammed Shami. This time Kagiso Rabada is at the receiving end as the ball sails over wide mid-on. The next five balls in the over yield nothing though. India 231/7 in 72 overs, lead South Africa by 224 runs.

18:55 PM

Whoa! Mohammed Shami surprises Morne Morkel with a big six. Morkel pitches it short and Shami pounces on it in a flash and the ball sails over. First six of the match and it comes off the bat of a tailender. Only a tailender can bat here like that. India 213/7 in 70 overs, lead South Africa by 206 runs. 

18:47 PM

Morne Morkel strikes for South Africa. Ajinkya Rahane edges one down leg from Morne Morkel and Quinton de Kock takes a nice, diving catch on his left. Rahane may have fallen two runs short of a fifty but there is no doubt that this innings of his has put India in a great position. India 203/7 in 68 overs, lead South Africa by 196 runs. Mohammed Shami joins Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25*) at the crease. 

18:05 PM

It's tea on Day 3 at Johannesburg. India 199/6 in 65 overs, lead South Africa by 192 runs. Great session for India. The partnership between Ajinkya Rahane (46) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23) has gone up to 51 runs. It's interesting to note that both these players had been the victims of the team management's selection faux pas, and now they are putting the tourists in a winning position.  

17:43 PM

Now Andile Phehlukwayo drops Ajinkay Rahane on 38. Unbelievable stuff from the South African fielders. Rahane cuts Kagiso Rabada aerially and Phehlukwayo spills a simple catch at deep point.  India 182/6 in 60 overs, with their heart in their mouth.

Dean Elgar drops Bhuvneshwar Kumar on 15. Morne Morkel comes round the wicket and induces an edge as Bhuvneshwar tries to cut a short-pitched delivery. Elgar has a straight forward chance at gulley but he spills it to the great disappointment of the bowler. India 178/6 in 59 overs, lead South Africa by 171 runs. Rahane 38*, Bhuvneshwar 15*.  

17:10 PM

Sixth wicket goes down for India. It's Hardik Pandya as Kagiso Rabada takes a one-handed catch off his own bowling. India 148/6 in 53 overs, lead South Africa by 141 runs. Rabada is really on fire, this is his second wicket in quick succession. Not long ago he had also cleaned up India captain Virat Kohli for 41. Bhuvneshwar Kumar joins Ajinkya Rahane, who is now key to India's chances of getting a fighting total. On 19, he looks solid as ever. 

16:25 PM

The pitch at the Wanderers in Johannesburg is under fire and several former cricketers have voiced in unison that it is not fit for Test cricket. Michael Holding, Dean Jones, Harbhajan Singh and Saurav Ganguly are the notable names. Anyway, the afternoon session has got underway and Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane look to take the team to as close as possible to 200. India 122/4 in 45 overs, lead South Africa by 115 runs. 

15:31 PM

So it's lunch on Day 3 at Johannesburg. India 100/4. It's one ball early as Kagiso Rabada cleans up Murali Vijay with a beautiful yorker against the run of play. Totally takes Murali Vijay aback who goes for 25. Kohli is unbeaten on 27 and the lead goes up to 93. The pitch is breaking dangerously and any target in the vicinity of 200 will test the hosts greatly. The Indians were fairly placed but this wicket has changed every thing. 

14:59 PM

The pitch is playing dangerously and Virat Kohli is having a word with the umpires. Murali Vijay has been hit a couple of times largely because of the two-paced nature of the pitch. Kohli himself had a blow of his own to deal with. Not by any means, this surface is good for Test cricket as it can be seen breaking. Something is going to happen after this match. It wouldn't be wrong on the part of the team management if they decide to complain against the quality of this deck. Anyway, the umpires decide to go on with the action - for now.  India 88/3 in 35 overs. 

14:25 PM

Third reprieve for Virat Kohli in the match. Aiden Markram drops him at short leg on 4 off the bowling of Morne Morkel. However in all honesty, it was hit really hard and Markram could be excused for not taking it. India 66/3 in 28 overs, lead South Africa by 59 runs.  

13:57 PM

Big blow to India's chances in this Test match. Cheteshwar Pujara, who had scored a dogged fifty in the first innings, edges Morkel to Faf du Plessis in the slips after scoring 1. India 57/3 in 22 overs, lead South Africa by 50 runs. India are in familiar territory, one has to say.   

13:38 PM

Just what India didn't want. Vernon Philander has KL Rahul caught in the slips for 16. He couldn't add anything to his overnight score. India 51 for 2, lead South Africa by 44 runs. As we have said before, the batsman is never in on this Green Mamba of a pitch. Cheteshwar Pujara had emphasised this point after scoring a dogged fifty on the opening day. India can't afford to have another bad day at the office as far as batting is concerned.    

13:31 PM

Play begins on Day 3. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas' pick of the bowlers in the first innings, begins the proceedings for South Africa. They are looking for early wickets and India are doing to do their damndest to ensure that doesn't happen. Exciting cricket in store for sure.  Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are at the crease on 13 and 16 respectively and India will hope they go on to score a lot more. However, complacency is one thing the Indian batsmen must avoid at all costs. It's that kind of wicket where you are never "in". They will have to remember that and play with caution all through.