Day 4
The start of the fourth day’s play in the third and and final cricket Test between India and South Africa resumed after a delay because of wet ground conditions due to overnight rain. Read more
Day 3
Strong exhibitions of batsmanship, on a wicket that looked to spit from time to time, from Indian captain Virat Kohli (41 off 79) and Ajinkya Rahane (48 off 68) saw India reach 247, and set a steep target of 241 for South Africa. Play was suspended after South African opener Dean Elgar was stuck frontally on the helm by a Mohammad Shami snorter, after a couple of Bumrah deliveries that rose awkwardly from a length.
Day 2
The second day’s play reaffirmed the challenging nature of this wicket as South Africa were bundled out for 194, a paltry first-innings lead of 7 runs, thanks largely to a characteristically gritty half-century by Hashim Amla. Jasprit Bumrah struck a five-for.
The Indian innings got off to a good start, Parthiv Patel beginning briskly but briefly, and India ended the day at 49/1.
Day 1
At stumps, South Africa had managed 6 runs and lost the wicket of Aiden Markram, in response to India’s tortured 187. Read more...
Soon after India won the toss on Wednesday at an overcast Wanderers, Johannesburg, in the third Test of its South African tour, the challenge revealed itself. Survival was hard as the sphere seamed, bounced and zipped off the green surface. Batting called for technique, heart, and some luck. These qualities were displayed only by Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara.
India, unusually, chose to play no specialist spinner in the XI, thereby leaving out R Ashwin. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was left out for the second Test, was recalled.
Another change was Ajinkya Rahane replacing Rohit Sharma. Rahane's omission for the first two Tests was criticised, given his good record overseas. South Africa too chose to go with a bowling attack without spinners. Fast bowler Andile Phehlukwayo came in for left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
