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South Africa 194 (Amla 61, Bumrah 5-54, Bhuvneshwar 3-44) and 17 for 1 need another 224 runs to beat India 187 (Kohli 54, Pujara 50, Rabada 3-39) sand 247 (Rahane 48, Kohli 41, Bhuvneshwar 33, Morkel 3-47)
Johannesburg: The 3rd Day of the 3rd Test saw its fair share of controversies after the play was called off early due to uneven bounce on the pitch at Wanderers.
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane’s 48 as well as some handy contributions from the lower order saw India set South Africa a stiff target of 241.
When pace off the pitch beats reflex by a second or more, expect a little bodily harm. More than half the India team could vouch for that on Friday.
Cheteshwar Pujara was left grimacing after being struck in his abdomen. Murali Vijay was hit on his ribs, groin and then on his left hand
Ajinkya Rahane was hit on his elbow before Hardik Pandya was struck on his hand. But they took those blows with a smile even as the umpires grew concerned about the widening cracks on the pitch.
Only one team was growing more nervous with every passing hour. In consecutive overs, chest level catches of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rahane were dropped at gully and deep point. The extras count had stretched to 29, including 12 wides.
By the time Bhuvneshwar Kumar departed after playing a terrific innings of 33, India were already 233 ahead. Ultimately, India ended with 247, posing a seriously tough 241-run target for South Africa.
Forget 3-0, South Africa will have to bat out of their skin to save this Test now.
Barring Bhuvneshwar and Mohammed Shami’s innings, India have three people to thank for reaching this position. Having already established himself as the best batsman in this team, Virat Kohli is also raising expectations by adding the savior act to his play almost every Test.
A superb technique allowed Kohli to continuously plant his foot as close as possible to the line of the balls.
The onus was on South Africa to get their length right. Anything slightly fuller and Kohli heaved into a caress through the sluggish covers. That approach fetched him four out of his six boundaries.
The only delivery that constantly made him look tentative was the one that moved in. And that finally breached his defence, Kagiso Rabada winning a stretched battle with a delivery that brushed Kohli’s thigh pad before clattering into his stumps.
Rabada’s genius had come through earlier too, when he unleashed an unplayable yorker to Murali Vijay on the stroke of lunch.
