India vs South Africa Live Score 3rd Test Day 3: India lose Murali Vijay against South Africa. (BCCI Photo)
India vs South Africa Live Score 3rd Test Day 3: India lost the wickets of Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya in the second session. Kohli played one of his best knocks in Test cricket. Though he made only 41 runs, but runs on the Wanderers pitch were invaluable. But he was bowled by Rabada off a off-cutter which came back in sharply. Pandya then gave Rabada a return catch. At the stroke of Lunch, India lost Murali Vijay when Rabada bowled a toe-crushing yorker to him. India ended the first session at 100 for 4, a lead of only 93 runs. India were going good for the major part of the session with these two keeping South Africa bowlers at bay. But Vijay’s wicket gives South Africa the opening they had been waiting for. Earlier in the day, India resumed at 49 for 1 but within 10 minutes of day’s play, Philander removed KL Rahul. He was caught at slips. Cheteshwar Pujara was the second batsman out when he got a rising delivery from Morne Morkel and he went to defend it. It was moving upwards and took the shoulder of his bat to the slip fielder. India were in trouble but Vijay and Kohli did well to negotiate the South Africa bowlers before Rabada bowled Vijay. Catch Live Cricket Score India vs South Africa 3rd Test Day 3 here. (INDIA vs SOUTH AFRICA FULL SCORECARD)
India vs South Africa Live Score and Updates 3rd Test Day 3: 05:13 pm IST: WICKET! Hardik Pandya departs. A straight push back to the bowler. Rabada puts his hand out and the ball sticks. Pandya is gone. India lose their sixth wicket. Lead is just 141
05:00 pm IST: Rahane with two boundaries for India. Both were very good shots. First is a cover drive in which he is leaning into it. And the other is a straight drive which has also given India four runs. Brilliant stuff!
04:53 pm IST: WICKET! Virat Kohli is bowled! A fabulous innings from Virat Kohli comes to an end as Kagiso Rabada gets one to dip into Kohli. It foes between his bat and pad and hits the top of off-stump. Kohli cannot believe it. He doesn’t know how that came back into him and hit the stumps.
04:40 hrs IST: Rahane goes after the bowlers. It was pitched up and Rahane spotted early. That is one way to play. India need a big partnership between him and Kohli to set a big target. Both can play for long
04:31 pm IST: Four! A short delivery which is wide as well and Rahane stretches to reach it. Cuts and it’s over the point fielder. Rahane and India will get four for it. Runs have come for India in the half-an-hour
04:25 pm IST: Kohli gets a leading edge but it flies over gully. It doesn’t go to the boundary but that was very bad. Extra bounce from the pitch which made the ball shoot up.
04:18 hrs IST: Four! Boundaries have been rare in this innings. But Kohli gets a delivery wide outside off and he presents the full face of the bat to push it through point region. Four runs and that brings up the 100-run lead for India. 6 wickets in hand
04:10 pm IST: Players are back on the field after Lunch. India are 100 for 4 and Ajinkya Rahane is the new man who has joined Virat Kohli in the middle. India lead by 93 runs. Rabada to finish his over
03:30 pm IST: WICKET! At the stroke of Lunch, Kagiso Rabada with a toe-crushing yorker to bowl Vijay! That is not what India needed. They would have liked Kohli and Vijay to remain unbeaten but that did not happen. It was full and it took a little inside edge of Vijay’s bat, hits him on the boot and then on to the stumps.
03:25 pm IST: 100 up for India with Kohli and Vijay batting. This a stunning partnership given the conditions of the pitch. The Lunch is round the corner as well and India will look to go to Lunch only three down
03:18 pm IST: What has been a testing session for India but Kohli and Vijay have been too good. They left deliveries that could have caused problems. They have scored runs on the loose delivery.
03:00 pm IST: The South African pacers have made the ball do the talking but the pitch has helped them too. This isn’t a perfect pitch for a match and the umpires have also taken note of it. They were again together to talk about it.
02:53 pm IST: Leave outside off is the norm in this innings. Vijay has not touched anything. He has been patient in this innings and waiting for the loose delivery. Top stuff from Vijay on this pitch
02:49 pm IST: Kohli’s patience have paid off. He was waiting for the loose delivery and when he gets one, he punches it through covers for four! He has been impressive so far in this innings. Couple of boundaries for him now
02:45 pm IST: Rabada has Kohli confused! He beats the outside edge of his bat twice and then one cuts back sharply and misses the inside edge. Kohli is looking at the pitch. Rabada is thinking how did that miss everything.
02:40 pm IST: The umpires get together to discuss what seems like the pitch. Kohli is hit on the gloves (again!) and is getting some treatment on his finger. This pitch has given some very unusual scenes for a batsman
02:35 pm IST: Play resumes after drinks break! Ngidi to bowl for South Africa. India are 67 for the loss of three wickets. Kohli and Vijay at the crease. India need them to keep going here
02:30 pm IST: South Africa bowlers have induced two edges now. Kohli dropped but the short square-leg fielder and now Vijay survives. This pitch is not for the batsman. Rabada now
02:25 pm IST: Some of Vijay’s shot have been in the air but not carried to the fielder. Philander has kept the fielders busy with the expectation of a catch. And if bowlers continue the same plan, a wicket is round the corner
02:15 hrs IST: Murali Vijay has left everything outside off. He has not tried to play at the wide deliveries and not taken any risk to score runs. Kohli is following him as well. Both are very important for India’s plan if they need to win this Test
02:05 hrs IST: Kohli looks at the pitch and cannot believe the way it is behaving. This looks like a day five pitch in Johannesburg. The ball is moving and has variable bounce!
01:57 pm IST: WICKET! Morne Morkel gets Cheteshwar Pujara. Extra bounce for the South Africa bowler and it takes the shoulder of Pujara bat. Faf du Plessis holds on to a decent catch at slips.
01:50 pm IST: Pujara and Vijay are trying hard to negotiate the swing and bounce. The pitch is helping the bowlers. Morne Morkel has extracted bounce while Philander has been moving the ball around.
01:40 pm IST: WICKET! KL Rahul has followed a wide delivery from Philander. A perfect length from Philander which drew Rahul forward and he has poked at that delivery. Gone for 16 runs
01:30 pm IST: Start of the day’s play in Johannesburg. India resume at 49 for 1 with Murali Vijay and KL Rahul. They lead by seven runs. Philander with the ball is ready.
Third day of the Johannesburg Test and India will resume at 49 for 2. They have been close to a win in this series and once again they have a chance to win a match. But for that they need to set a big target
Hashim Amla showed everyone how to play on this not-so-good batting surface. He shuffled, walked ahead, used his footwork to great affect. Indian batsmen might need to learn from him if they want to play long in the second innings on Friday.