India versus South Africa 3rd Test 3rd Day: Match heading towards thrilling finish
The 3rd day of the 3rd Test match saw some brilliant cricket by both teams with a thrilling finish played at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday.
Starting on the overnight score of 57 for 2, it was a disastrous
start by the Indians as they lost the big wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara with a lovely
one-handed catch from Keegan Petersen at leg-slip. Soon after, Ajiyanka Rahane
also went cheaply via review for caught behind. The umpire gave it not out and
on review, it was overturned to out as it hit the gloves to leave India
struggling at 58 for 4.
Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada produced some superb
deliveries to Indian captain Virat Kohli. Rishabh Pant put the bad deliveries away
for boundaries keeping the scoreboard ticking while Kohli just defended and did
not look to score runs. After the initial spell by Rabada and Jansen, Pant took advantage
of Ngidi and Oliver putting South African bowlers under pressure. Elgar decided
to bring Maharaj into the attack as Pant showed intent reaching his fifty off
58 balls. India went into the lunch break at 130 for 4.
After the lunch break, Pant looked in great touch putting
Keshav Maharaj under pressure with 2 successive sixes. Lungi Ngidi provided a much-needed breakthrough getting rid of Kohli chasing a wide delivery straight
to Aiden Markram. Kohli and Pant added 94 runs for the 5th wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin did not look comfortable before providing a simple catch to
Marco Jansen. Ngidi struck again to dismiss Shardul Thakur to bring South
Africa into the game.
Rishabh took most of the strike while Umesh Yadav was
dismissed without opening his account caught by Verryne. The South African
captain Elgar bought Rabada after a long time as Keshav Maharaj and Bavuma dropped
tough chances. Mohammed Shami looked solid with his defense technique before
providing a simple catch to Van der Dussen at short leg. Pant completed his
fourth Test century off 133 balls. Jasprit Bumrah was the last batsman to be
dismissed as South Africa bowled out India for 198 setting South Africa 212
runs to win.
In reply, South Africa openers Elgar and Markram began off
well against Shami and Bumrah. Shami got rid of Markram with a superb catch by
KL Rahul. Dean Elgar survived a few anxious moments, but Keegan Petersen looked
compact timing the ball brilliantly. Thakur and Umesh Yadav bowled some superb
deliveries but were unlucky to get edges. Dean Elgar was given out by the umpire but
on review, it was overturned to not out as the ball was going over the stumps.
Keegan Petersen and Elgar kept the scoreboard ticking making life tough for
Indian bowlers.
Ashwin did look threatening enough as Petersen took advantage
of bad bowling. Right at the stroke of stumps, Dean Elgar was dismissed via
review for being caught behind. The umpire gave it not out and on review, the decision
was overturned as it hit the edge. Elgar and Petersen added 78 runs for the 2nd
wicket.
India
223 in 77.3 overs ( Kohli 79, Pujara 43, Rabada 4/73, Jansen 3/55) 198 in 67.3
overs ( Pant 100*, Jansen 4/36, Ngidi 3/21) lead South Africa 210 in 76.3 overs
( Keegan Petersen 72, Bavuma 28, Bumrah 5/42) and 101 for 2 in 29.4 overs(
Petersen 48*, Elgar 30, Shami 1/22, Bumrah 1/29)
South Africa needs 111 runs to win while India needs 8 wickets.
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