India vs South Africa: 1st Test, Day 3 - As it happened...

Live updates of India vs South Africa, 1st Test, Day 3

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Zee Media Bureau SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | REPORT» ALSO SEE: * Post-Tendulkar era begins, Virat Kohli shines» * Another overseas demise as India fail to acclimatize * Will legacy of ‘fab four’ be carried out by GenX? ============================================================== If you are a Sachin Tendulkar fan, and you are missing his presence in South Africa, you can have a look at A detailed slideshow about Sachin’s 100 centuries» ALSO SEE: Sachin Tendulkar’s Test tons against South Africa» ================================================================ India, 2nd Innings Over 75|| Score 284/2 Stumps: 38 overs, 175 runs and no wickets. It has been a brilliant session and an even better day for the Indian team. Both Pujara and Kohli have batted exceptionally well, and it didn’t look like they were batting on a South African pitch. Pujara was unlucky in the first innings where he was run-out, but in the second, he made sure he proved a point that he is a class batsman on all sorts of wickets. He has been a massive run-machine in the Indian domestic circuit and the selectors would be delighted with his performance in the first Test so far. On the other hand, Kohli has once again played a flawless innings and it was good to see him slow down the pace of his innings while Pujara was scoring quickly. The hosts on the other hand would be wondering what went wrong. The only chance which came their way was dropped by Imran Tahir off his own bowling. That was a big moment in the game as Pujara was batting on 51. From there on, he not only scored quickly but went on to score his maiden century against the Proteas. India now lead by 320 runs with eight wickets in hand, a kind of performance that would make MS Dhoni extremely proud of his team. Cheteshwar Pujara 135* (221b) Virat Kohli 77* (132b) ================================================================ Over 70 || Score 256/2 Pujara has slammed his maiden Test ton against South Africa. Once he completed his half-century, Pujara cruised to his century within no time and even after that he continued to play his strokes. Kohli is playing sensibly at the other hand and he has looked in no sort of hurry with Pujara scoring in boundaries at the other end. These two have now added unbeaten 163 runs for the third-wicket partnership and India now lead by 292 runs with eight wickets in hand. Cheteshwar Pujara 127* (201b) Virat Kohli 57* (104b) ================================================================ Over 60 || Score 217/2 South Africa continue to search for their third breakthrough as now Kohli and Pujara are scoring runs at a brisk pace. Kohli has followed his ton in the first innings with a half-century while Pujara is just six runs short of his maiden Test ton against the hosts. This partnership is now worth 124 runs and India lead by 253 runs with eight wickets in hand. ================================================================ Over 55 || Score 185/2 South African bowlers are now looking a little exhausted as Kohli and Pujara continue to stitch in a massive partnership. The partnership is now worth 92 runs and India now lead by 221 runs with eight wickets in hand. ================================================================ Over 50 || Score 151/2 Cheteshwar Pujara went onto score his first half-century against South Africa after missing out in the first innings. Imran Tahir made a blunder when he dropped Pujara off his own bowling while the right-hander was batting on 51. That chance could cost South Africa plenty of runs. This partnership is now worth 58 runs as India lead by 187 runs with eight wickets in hand. Cheteshwar Pujara 52* (133b) Virat Kohli 30* (52b) ================================================================ Over 45 || Score 131/2 The Pujara-Kohli partnership continues to frustrate South Africa. These two hold the key for the Indian team as they batted well in the first innings and looked extremely comfortable out there at the crease. The duo has continued the good work and has added unbeaten 38 runs for the third-wicket partnership. India now lead by 167 runs with eight wickets in hand. ================================================================ Over 40 || Score 109/2 Tea: The 89-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara was extremely pivotal from India’s perspective in the first innings. These two have the technique to excel in the longest format of the game and India would want something similar from these two in the second innings as well, in order to reach a respectable score, something which could Indian bowlers a chance to express themselves against the Proteas batting line-up which couldn’t do much in the first innings. Pujara and Kohli have added 16 runs for the third wicket so far. India now lead by 145 runs with eight wickets in hand. Pujara is batting on 39 and a big one is due from him. How desperate is Smith for a wicket here, was evident when he asked AB de Villiers to bowl the last over before tea, as Hashim Amla went behind the stumps wearing the gloves. Cheteshwar Pujara 39* (107b) Virat Kohli 6* (11b) ================================================================ Over 35|| Score 94/2 Kallis got the much-needed breakthrough for South Africa as after doing all the hard work, Murali Vijay edged one behind. That wicket also ended the 71-run stand for the second wicket. Virat Kohli is the new man in and his team would want the in-form batsman to slam another big knock. M Vijay c de Villiers b Kallis 39 (94b) ================================================================ Over 30|| Score 81/5 Vijay and Pujara have continued the good work and this partnership is now a crucial for the Indian team as these two have added unbeaten 58 runs for the second wicket. In the last five overs, these two have made sure to take their chances of anything that had some width on offer outside the off-stump. India now lead by 117 runs with nine wickets in hand. ================================================================ Over 25|| Score 54/1 Vijay and Pujara have been watchful as well as lucky. There were some close chances where the Indian batsmen could have easily edged one of the deliveries, but that’s something we have seen frequently in this Test match. These two have now added unbeaten 31 runs for the second wicket partnership. India now lead by 90 runs with nine wickets in hand. ================================================================ Over 8 || Score 23/1 Philander picked up his 100th Test wicket. Dhawan Out. Slightly short of length ball outside off by Philander and Dhawan got the leading edge, at slips Kallis did no mistake. Philander becomes the fastest South African to scalp 100 Test wickets. It was a wicket maiden by the bowler. On South African soil, Dhawan’s poor form continues. Cheteshwar Pujara is the next man in for India after the fall of their first wicket. S Dhawan c Kallis b Philander 15 (21b) ================================================================ Over 5 || Score 20/0 Indian openers – Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay have come to the middle to open the innings. On the other hand Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander are sharing the new ball once again. Dhawan collected the first boundary of the innings in the second over bowled by Philander, by placing the ball towards deep backward point region. In the same over India welcomed four extra runs of over-throw. Dhawan needs to show some patience at the crease, before he started playing his shots and same applies for Vijay as well. So far these openers have played both the bowlers with an ease. M Morkel b Khan 7 (9b) ================================================================ South Africa, 1st innings Over 75.3 || Score 244 Zaheer picked his fourth wicket of the match to bundle the South African innings on 244, which means India got the psychological lead of 36 runs in the 1st Test. Zaheer bowled a nearly perfect yorker to get the last wicket of Morkel. Spearhead and mentor of Indian bowling, Zhaeer, proved once again why he has been a crucial cog in India team for so many years. South Africa only managed to score 31 runs in their overnight total of 213 runs and lost their last four wickets. M Morkel b Khan 7 (9b) ================================================================ Over 74 || Score 239/9 Dale Steyn Out. Ishant Sharma is the man this time, who gave India its second breakthrough of the day. After collecting two boundaries off Zaheer Khan in the last over, Steyn was surprised by the speed and bounce generated by Ishant on third ball of the next. He only managed to get the top edge of his bat and Rohit standing at slips, took a comfortable catch. The hosts are still trailing by 41 runs. Double blow for South Africa. In the very next over, Zaheer produced another beauty to sent du Plessis back to the pavilion. An outside edge yet again and the ball went straight inside the glove of MS Dhoni. F du Plessis c Dhoni b Khan 20 (77b) DW Steyn c RG Sharma b I Sharma 10 (12b) ================================================================ Over 70 || Score 226/7 Zaheer Khan strikes. India got the early breakthrough this morning and that too in the form of V Philander. A perfectly pitch balled by Zaheer, Philander hung his bat and got the outside edge, at slips Ashwin took a sharp catch. Zaheer is known for producing such deliveries. VD Philander c Ashwin b Khan 59 (86b) ================================================================ Over 68 || Score 225/6 Ishant Sharma has started the bowling proceedings of the day for India. Philander, smashed Ishant for four in the very first ball and with that completes his fifty as well. What a gutsy half-century by him, a well deserved too. After a gap of one ball Philander collected another boundary once again on the off side. Zaheer Khan bowled the second over of the day and gave just two runs. India has to pick these four wickets quickly to keep the hosts under pressure. ================================================================ Overcast conditions might help the Indian seam bowlers early on. And the cracks that are opening up with every passing day will surely give spinners, especially, R Ashwin some much needed confidence. ================================================================ Today, Indian bowlers will try to bundle out South Africa in the first session of the day to take the psychological advantage over the home team, whereas South African batsmen -- Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander – will look for a decent lead in their first innings. ================================================================ Johannesburg: India`s pace bowlers staged a dramatic turnaround with a devastating exhibition of swing bowling as South Africa suffered a stunning collapse to leave the first cricket Test more or less on an even keel here on Thursday. The Indians lost five wickets for just 25 runs to be bundled out for 280 in their first innings but clawed back brilliantly to leave the hosts at 213 for six at close in an action-packed second day. The hosts were cruising along comfortably at 130 for one before the Indian pacers wreaked havoc to completely change the complexion of the game on a Wanderers track which gave assistance to the quick bowlers. The lanky Ishant Sharma (3/64)triggered the shocking batting collapse by dismissing Hashim Amla (36) and Jaques Kallis (0) off consecutive deliveries before Zaheer Khan got rid of captain Graeme Smith (68) -- all three wickets falling without a single run being added. Mohammed Shami then struck for his team by evicting J P Duminy (2) and A B De Villers (13) in the same over to bring the Indians back into the game. From 130 for one, the Proteas were suddenly struggling at 146 for six, losing five wickets in the span of 16 runs in the eventful last session. The Proteas, however, recovered some lost ground with Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander stitching 67 runs for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand as Indian bowlers went wicketless for the last 21.3 overs.