India vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 3, live cricket score: Kohli, Vijay key, IND lead 56

Jasprit Bumrah’s magnificent five-wicket haul and solid batting from Murali Vijay have helped India establish a slender advantage over South Africa in the Johannesburg Test. Will Virat Kohli and the rest of the batting step up and give the Proteas a challenging total on a wicket which is assisting the pacers or will the hosts’ pacers once again run through the Indian batting? Catch live cricket score of India vs South Africa, 3rd Test day 3 from Johannesburg here. (LIVE SCORECARD) (PV SINDHU vs SAINA NEHWAL SCORES) (AUS vs ENG SCORES)

14:19 hrs IST: It continues to get tough for Kohli and Vijay. Get a feeling something is going to happen here. India are 64/3, lead by 57.

14:14 hrs IST: Uneven bounce and Vijay continues to leave. Batting is getting tougher and tougher with each ball. India are 63/3, lead by 56.

14:08 hrs IST: FOUR! Gentle half-volley from Philander, Kohli leans forward and drives it through cover for his first boundary of the day.

14:04 hrs IST: Chris Lynn provided a vignette of the modern package of robust cricket that IPL is, with his stunning catch to dismiss AB de Villiers in 2014. The Aussie, body arced back and contorted somehow landed inside the rope with ball in hand, as KKR beat RCB on way to their second title. But IPL has also hugely valued its vintage performers. And a small band of 35-plus players will be keen to show where they stand in the player auction at the weekend. An interesting read!

13:58 hrs IST: In walks Virat Kohli. The India captain is the main man here. He needs to put on a partnership with Vijay or else, a 3-0 defeat could well be on the cards.

13:56 hrs IST: WICKET! Rising short of length delivery from Morkel, Pujara looks to defend but gets the shoulder of the bat and du Plessis does the rest at second slip.

13:52 hrs IST: Only three runs have been scored off the first four overs. India need some quick runs here or else pressure will pile up. They are 52/2, Vijay 15*, Pujara 1*

13:49 hrs IST: First runs of the day for Pujara, not convincing though. Gets an inside edge towards backward square leg for a single. He gets off the mark off his fourth ball this innings.

13:46 hrs IST: Morkel has been asking a lot of questions to the Indian batsmen. Faf needs to persist with him in order to get quick wickets. Philander continues.

13:43 hrs IST: And straightaway, there’s a change in bowling. Morne Morkel comes into the attack.

13:39 hrs IST: OUT! And Philander has got his man. Rahul departs. Full and wide outswinger, the India batsman reached out and edged it to the fielder at second slip. Poor shot! Wasn’t needed. Cheteshwar Pujara comes to the crease.

13:35 hrs IST: Tidy over to start off from Rabada. The key is to make both batsmen play every ball. India are 51/2, lead by 44. Vernon Philander comes into the attack.

13:31 hrs IST: Time for live action. Vijay to take strike. Rabada to start the proceedings. It’s going to be an exciting day. First two sessions could well decide the course of the game.

13:20 hrs IST: Title contenders India justified their top billing as they clinically decimated Bangladesh by 131 runs in the quarter-final to set up a mouth-watering last four clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. Read full report here

13:15 hrs IST: Anything around 200 would be difficult to chase on this track. Both Murali Vijay and KL Rahul looked positive yesterday and the management would hope they continue their solid show.

13:00 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to HT’s live coverage of the Day 3 of the third and final Test between South Africa and India at Johannesburg.

India have endured a torrid time in the series in South Africa. In Cape Town, they were dismissed for under 200 in both innings while another collapse in Centurion resulted in the side losing a series for the first time in two years and prolonging their overseas woes. On day 2 of the third Test, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were the stars for India as they wrecked the South African batting to give the side a chance to salvage some pride.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a gritty fifty, said a total near 200 would be equivalent to 300 on day 1. With the pitch continuing to assist the pacers, India’s batting will hinge on how Virat Kohli and the lower middle order bat. However, with five pacers in the side, South Africa will be determined to expose the weakness of the visitor’s batting line-up. A target in excess of 200 will be very hard for South Africa to chase on this deck.

For the record, India have never lost a Test in Johannesburg, drawing three games and winning one in 2006. That victory was their first-ever in South Africa and in 2018, they could have a chance yet again.