Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stitched a 55-run partnership. (BCCI Photo)
Chasing a total of 241 runs at Wanderers, South Africa got off to a terrible start. Aiden Markram, who had failed to score a single run in the first innings, departed for 4, with Mohammed Shami scalping him in his first over with a short ball. Markram edged it straight to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps. Dean Elgar was tested with a short ball from Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the ball went on to hit him in the thumb. Him and Hasim Amla continued to fight it hard on a testing surface in spite of Kumar and Shami continuously testing them with short balls. Elgar was later struck right on the face by Jasprit Bumrah which prompted the umpires and referees to have a discussion on whether it is safe to continue to play. The players have walked off the pitch and Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri look clearly unhappy with the decision. The play will resume if both the captains come to a conclusion. It started drizzling in Wanderers with still 10 minutes of day’s play remaining. The day was finally called off with South africa reaching 17/1 at stumps. It still remains unclear whether the match will continue furhter. Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stitched a 53-run partnership to take India to a total of 247 with a lead of 240 runs, setting South Africa a target of 241 runs to chase. Mohammed Shami played a late cameo of 27 runs on 27 balls to help his side. Catch Live Cricket Score India vs South Africa 3rd Test Day 3 here. (INDIA vs SOUTH AFRICA FULL SCORECARD)
India vs South Africa, 3rd Test Day 3: 09:02 pm IST: South Africa reach 17/1 as the day’s play has been called off. It still remains unclear whether the match will continue further.
08:55 pm IST: The word from the middle is that the meeting between both the captains, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis is over and they have returned to their dressing rooms.
So what’s the difference of this pitch than earlier today? Sunny G is right. If the umpires were going to call it off, then it should have been done earlier…. but India battled through it. Now SA should have to do the same.. sadly Elgar didn’t play it well.
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) January 26, 2018
08:49 pm IST: And now it is drizzling in Wanderers, with still 10 minutes of day’s play remaining.
08:45 pm IST: The bowl by Jasprit Bumrah that struck Dean Elgar on the head was in the short pitched region – 8.5 metres from the base of the stumps. An argument can be made that the ball was not not a pitch issue.
08:40 pm IST: The play has been halted and players have walked off the field. This has been a dramatic finish to a dramatic day. The pitch will resume if both the captains come to a mutual consensus. Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri is not happy.
08:35 pm IST: That’s a nasty hit by Jasprit Bumrah. He bowled it short and the ball went on to struck Dean Elgar on the head. The referee is out in the middle to discuss the uneven bounce on the pitch and whether it is safe to continue.
08:30 pm IST: Jasprit Bumrah is brought into the attack and he replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He took 5 wickets in the first innings. Can he get a wicket here before stumps?
08:25 pm IST: This has been a solid bowling performance from India so far. They have not given South Africa any room to capitalise. Shami continues to test Elgar with bounce.
08:15 pm IST: Hashim Amla is off-the-mark here. He scored 61 runs in the first innings and if India want to establish control, they need his wicket before stumps.
08:05 pm IST: Even with the ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues to trouble South Africa. The ball took a sudden bounce and surprised Dean Elgar. It hit him on the fingers and he looked in serious pain.
08:00 pm IST: WICKET! It is surprising to see India using Mohammed Shami with the new ball and not Jasprit Bumrah in this innings. Bumrah took five wickets in the first innings. But the strategy worked and Shami gets the wicket of Aiden Markram. SA 5/1
07:51 pm IST: If South Africa manage to chase down the target of 241, then it will be the third highest total ever chased down at the Wanderers only after 310 by Australia in 2010 and 292 by Australia in 2006.
07:40 pm IST: WICKET! Jasprit Bumrah departs on 0 and it is Vernon Philander who gets the wicket. India are bowled out for 247, with a lead of 240. South Africa need 241 to win the 3rd Test at Wanderers.
07:28 pm IST: WICKET! Morne Morkel strikes and it is a short ball that does the trick once again. Bhuvneshwar Kumar departs on 33 and it is all but over for India. IND 240/9
07:16 pm IST: WICKET! Lungi Ngidi strikes and gets the much-needed breakthrough as Mohammed Shami departs for 27. It was an interesting cameo from him. IND 238/8.
07:15 pm IST: Lungi Ngidi has just bowled 9 overs out of 75 in this innings. He is back into the attack as South Africa are searching for a quick wicket.
07:05 pm IST: This has been an exciting cameo from Mohammed Shami. He has already smacked Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel for a six and has scored 23 runs in 19 balls here. That’s one way to counter this surface.
06:58 pm IST: Mohammed Shami has scored 13 runs in 13 balls and this must hurt South Africa. India have already taken a lead of over 200 runs and Virat Kohli is applauding every run from here on.
Morkel ko 6, Rabada ko 6 .
Vijay ka, Rahul ka, Pujara ka,
Sabka badla lega re tera Shami :)— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 26, 2018
06:45 pm IST: WICKET! Ajinkya Rahane is finally gone and it is Morne Morkel who gets the wicket. It has been a terrific innings from him and he deserved to get a half century here. IND 203/7
06:40 pm IST: India have crossed 200 runs here and the lead has now gone up to 195. South Africa are desperate to get a wicket here, and they waste a review in the hope of getting one.
06:30 pm IST: Back after Tea on Day 3. There is a simple question in everyone’s mind right now: How far can Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar can take India’s lead here in this very difficult pitch? Exciting session ahead.
06:10 pm IST: TEA ON DAY 3. Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar walk back to the pavilion with applause from the dressing room. What a fighting spirit these two have shown today. India reach 199/7, lead by 192 runs.
06:02 hrs IST: Ajinkya Rahane is moving towards his half century. He is currently on 44 in 54 balls and has really fought it hard on a troubling pitch.
This isn’t just a brave innings from Rahane; it is that of a highly accomplished player.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 26, 2018
05:55 pm IST: This is a really smart partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The duo have already added 46 runs to their side’s cause and has brought out sloppiness in fielding from the home side.
05:47 pm IST: Dropped! This time it is Rahane who survive. A uppish shot straight to sweeper cover where Phehlukwayo drops a straight-forward catch. Rabada cannot believe it. Neither can Faf du Plessis. India score more runs.
05:44 pm IST: Dropped! Bhuvneshwar Kumar was cramped for room and he played a shot straight to the gully fielder. Elgar, who received the catch at chest height, let’s it go through his hands. Bhuvneshwar survives.
05:33 hrs IST: Another unusual bounce! It hits the glove of Ajinkya Rahane and now the umpires are meeting in the middle to discuss this pitch again. Kohli is signalling to the batsmen to stay.
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.