Shami's triple strike keeps India in the game

It took one frantic, almost unplayable spell from Mohammed Shami to put the game back in the balance as India came storming back in the second half of the opening session on day four to reduce South Africa to 173/5 at Lunch.

South Africa were gliding along at 144/2 with AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar in the middle of a big, 141-run stand when Shami struck first. Seven overs later, South Africa were in a spot at 163/5, their lead still not up to 200.

Before Shami ran riot with his three-wicket burst, de Villiers and Elgar had put South Africa in control. de Villiers looked like he was playing on a different plane, constantly turning strike over and putting away boundaries regularly. Elgar, a lot less comfortable at the other end, ensured he put a price on his wicket despite playing and missing on multiple occasions.

South Africa looked set to take the honours of the opening session, but Shami, who had not bowled in the session until then, turned the tables. He started off colour, giving away two boundaries in his first over, but hit his straps in the next.

de Villiers (80) received a near unplayable delivery that jumped off a length and took the edge, while Dean Elgar (61) flicked a short delivery straight to deep square leg, where KL Rahul completed the catch after a juggle. Quinton de Kock got three consecutive boundaries off Shami, but all three came off edges and ran away to third man. Shami reaped his reward off the fourth ball, with the edge this time going to Parthiv Patel.

Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander survived a few close calls towards the end, but managed to hold fort and take South Africa to Lunch at 173/5, with an overall lead of 201.

Brief Scores: South Africa 335 & 173/5 (AB de Villiers 80, Dean Elgar 61, Mohammed Shami 3-38) lead India 307 (Virat Kohli 153, Morne Morkel 4-60) by 201 runs.