India now face the monumental task of looking for the 252 runs required for victory in the second Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park – without inspirational captain Virat Kohli.
Kohli‚ who scored 153 in the first innings‚ was given out lbw from the bowling of Lungi Ngidi in the closing stages of the third session in a key moment that is likely to have a huge impact on the direction of this Test match on the final day today.
At the close of play yesterday‚ India were on 35/3, and they must pull off the highest successful run chase in a Test match here in Centurion to win and square the series 1-1, with the final encounter scheduled for Johannesburg next week.
They will resume today with Cheteshwar Pujara and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel on respective scores of 11 off 40 and 5 off 24, and lots of work to be done to revive their second innings.
India still have capable batsmen like Rohit Sharma‚ Hardik Pandya‚ Ravichandran Ashwin and the rest of the tail made up of Mohammed Shami‚ Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah‚ but it is unlikely that they will be able to mount a fightback on the last day.
SA got the defence of their score off to a good start when Kagiso Rabada bowled out Murali Vijay for just nine runs with a low-bounce delivery that got an inside edge before crushing his leg stump, sending Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease.
It was not long before India lost the second wicket as KL Rahul punched the ball straight to the point from where Kashav Maharaj claimed a good catch from the bowling of Ngidi, having scored only four.
Ngidi was enjoying the spell of his life and it was no surprise when he trapped Kolhi for lbw, having scored only five runs, to deal India a heavy blow.
Before India went in to bat‚ South Africa was bowled out for 258, leaving the visitors to score 287 to win this match and tie the series.
South Africa started the defence of their total with bad news that Aiden Markram will not be fielding as a result of a left quadricep strain which needs rehabilitation‚ making him a doubt for the third Test at Wanderers.
Markram was replaced by Theunis de Bruyn on the field.
South Africa started the day on 90/2 and 118 runs ahead, with De Villiers on 50 off 78 and Dean Elgar on 36 off 78.
In the first session‚ South Africa lost the three wickets of De Villiers (80)‚ Elgar (61) and Quinton de Kock (12), with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami the destroyer in chief as the Proteas went to lunch sitting on 163/5 and a lead of 201 runs.
In this session‚ De Villiers and Elgar managed a partnership of 141.
In the second session‚ Ishant Sharma wrecked havoc with the middle order as he claimed the wickets of Vernon Philander (26) and Keshav Maharaj (6) for South Africa to go to tea having scored 230/7 and a lead of 258.
Rabada (4)‚ skipper Faf du Plessis (48) and Ngidi (1) fell early in the third session to the bowling of Shami‚ Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin respectively. — DDC