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Day Two report Nagpur: India seized control of the third Test in Nagpur on Thursday after South Africa, shot out for a record low of 79, fumbled again in their chase of a tough target. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin finished with five for 32 and Jadeja took four for 33 on a dusty surface at the VCA stadium to bowl South Africa out in 33.1 overs, giving India a first-innings lead of 136 runs. India were themselves dismissed for 173 runs in their second knock, setting the top-ranked Proteas an improbable target of 310 on a pitch where the ball is turning sharply and keeping low. [caption id=“attachment_2506714” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File picture of AB de Villiers. AFP[/caption] South Africa, needing a win to level the four-Test series, ended the second day’s play on 32 for two, with Dean Elgar unbeaten on 10 and skipper Hashim Amla on three. The tourists will start the third day requiring 278 runs more on a dicey pitch that has already claimed 32 wickets over the first two days – 20 of them on Thursday itself. Targets of over 300 runs have been chased successfully just once on Indian soil – by the home team which made 387-4 to defeat England in Chennai in 2008. Starting the day at 11-2, the Proteas suffered a sensational collapse as they lost three wickets for one run in the first four overs to slip to 12-5. The world’s number one Test side were at that stage in danger of falling below their lowest ever total of 30, but a defiant 35 by JP Duminy saved them the blushes. But South Africa’s meagre score was the lowest total by any team against India, coming in below Sri Lanka’s 82 in Chandigarh in 1990. – “Not discounting” a win yet –Proteas’ coach Russell Domingo refused to criticise the pitch conditions and insisted all was not lost for the tourists yet. “Some strange things have happened in this game before,” Domingo said. “We are obviously a long way behind in this Test at the moment, but we are not discounting ourselves just yet. “If you’re winning the series, it is easy to criticise the pitch, but when you’re behind in the series, it is difficult to do so. “You have to give India credit. They have prepared wickets that suit their style of play and their spinners have been really good. They have bowled outstandingly well and we have not batted as well as we can.” Amla’s poor run in the series continued when he gloved an intended sweep off Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane in the slips after the ball bounced off the wicket-keeper. Amla, who scored 43, 0 and seven in the three previous innings, managed just a single run this time before walking off even before the umpire gave him out. Dangerman AB de Villiers failed to score while Faf du Plessis was bowled for 10 when the batsman attempted an ugly heave and missed the line of the ball. Duminy, who hit two sixes off Jadeja, was ninth out when he was trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who was required to bowl just three overs in the entire innings. When India batted a second time, Shikhar Dhawan (39) and Cheteshwar Pujara (31) showed the way to tackle the turning ball by adding 44 for the second wicket. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who was surprisingly kept out of the attack till the 25th over as India moved to 82-2, picked up five wickets for 38 runs to restrict the Indian innings. From a comfortable 97-2, India slipped to 108-5 before being all out in the post-tea session. The tourists, who lost the first Test in Mohali before the rain-hit second game in Bangalore was drawn, need a win to take the series into the decider in New Delhi starting December 3. AFP
India vs South Africa, Nagpur Test Day 3 as it happened: Ashwin's seven-for seals series for India
Live updates from Day 3 as South Africa look for an improbable win to level the four-Test series,
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All over! India win by 124 runs. They seal the series 2-0 with one match to go.
Ashwin bowls the carrom ball and Morkel is cleaned up. Indian players celebrate the series win. South Africa lose first away series in 9 years. Ashwin finishes with seven-for – 7/66 his best figures in Tests.
After 88 overs South Africa 178/9 (Harmer 5, Morkel 0)
Both the batsmen cautious with their defense in that over. Harmer smashed one to cover but Vijay made a brilliant stop. There were smiles all around. The Indian players are enjoying this now.
After 87 overs South Africa 177/9 (Harmer 4, Morkel 0)
Another successful over from Ashwin, one run and a wicket off it.
OUT! Ashwin gets his 6th, Rabada departs! K Rabada c Kohli b Ashwin 6 (17b 1×4 0x6)
Flighted and full on off, spinning away. Rabada goes for a forward defense but gets an outside edge to Kohli at close-in gully.
Morne Morkel is the last man in.
After 86 overs South Africa 176/8 (Rabada 6, Harmer 3)
Two runs off the over. Both batsmen not troubled much in that over from Mishra.
After 86 overs South Africa 174/8 (Rabada 5, Harmer 2)
Rabada living dangerously and gets a lifeline in that over. He at first mistimes his loft over mid off for a boundary and then gets an outside edge which goes through the hands of Ajinkya Rahane at 1st slip.
After 85 overs South Africa 168/8 (Rabada 0, Harmer 1)
Rabada used his feet to good effect in that over and was solid in his defense. A maiden from Jadeja.
After 84 overs South Africa 168/8 (Rabada 0, Harmer 1)
Another probing over from Ashwin. Harmer is playing very late on the back foot. He needs to be careful. A maiden.
After 83 overs South Africa 168/8 (Rabada 0, Harmer 1)
The ball has suddenly started to do all sorts of things. Jadeja bears Harmer with a ripper and then brings one back in to Rabada who misses but the umpire turns down a half hearted appeal.
After 82 overs South Africa 167/8 (Rabada 0, Harmer 0)
Two wickets in Ashwin’s over. He is now the leading wicket taker in Tests this year. This is ending in a hurry.
After 81 overs South Africa 164/7 (Duminy 19, Vilas 10)
Jadeja gets his first go with the new ball. A steady over, with one appeal for LBW after Vilas attempted a sweep. Glove-pad combo, good decision. 4 singles in that over.
After 80 overs South Africa 160/6 (Duminy 18, Vilas 8)
Two singles off Amit Mishra’s over. Fairly eventless so far after tea. One short ball is cut by Vilas but doesn’t find the gap.
New ball due and it’s Ravindra Jadeja…
After 80 overs South Africa 160/6 (Duminy 18, Vilas 8)
Two singles off Amit Mishra’s over. Fairly eventless so far after tea. One short ball is cut by Vilas but doesn’t find the gap.
New ball due and it’s Ravindra Jadeja…
After 79 overs South Africa 158/6 (Duminy 17, Vilas 7)
Ishant continues round the wicket to Duminy. After five dot balls, Duminy tucks one behind to square leg for a single, keeps strike..
After 78 overs South Africa 157/6 (Duminy 16, Vilas 7)
Amit Mishra’s over goes for six runs. Some slow turn in that over. After Vilas and Duminy trade singles, the SA wicketkeeper releases the pressure with a boundary off the last ball to midwicket.
After 76 overs South Africa 151/6 (Duminy 15, Vilas 2)
Ishant goes around the wicket to Duminy. And it’s a maiden over. His rhythm has been good and this over is no different. A couple of wide, teasing balls that Duminy leaves. One ball rises from good length but Duminy negotiates that well. An half-appeal for LBW too.
Meanwhile, the commentators are having some banter about Ishant’s man-bun and a Zlatan impression..
After 76 overs South Africa 151/6 (Duminy 15, Vilas 2)
Ishant goes around the wicket to Duminy. And it’s a maiden over. His rhythm has been good and this over is no different. A couple of wide, teasing balls that Duminy leaves. One ball rises from good length but Duminy negotiates that well. An half-appeal for LBW too.
Meanwhile, the commentators are having some banter about Ishant’s man-bun and a Zlatan impression..
Tea on day 3: South Africa 151/6 (Duminy 15, Vilas 2)
46/2 from 31 overs in post-lunch session. Mishra finished off the last over before lunch with a beautiful leg spinner which beat Vilas’ outside edge. A slow session, just 46 runs scored from 31 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Mishra bowled beautifully and scalped both set batsmen – Amla and Du Plessis.
After 75 overs, South Africa 148/6 (Duminy 14, Vilas 0)
Good contest between Ashwin and Duminy. The former beats him with a sharp spinning off-spinner but then Duminy gets down and sweeps it powerfully very fine for a boundary. He then punches a short one through mid-wicket for three. 7 runs off the over.
After 74 overs, South Africa 141/6 (Duminy 7, Vilas 0)
Duminy has come out with a positive intent. He gets an outside edge first ball but it falls short of the first slip fielder. He then charges down the track and flicks a full toss through mid-wicket for a four. He looks to drive a faster one next up but doesn’t connect it well, gets a single to point. 5 runs off the over.
After 73 overs, South Africa 136/6 (Duminy 2, Vilas 0)
An eventful over. Duminy’s inside edge falls just short of the short leg fielder, he then charges down and flicks it, the short leg fielder shows good reflexes to make the stop and throw it to the keeper who whips the bails off but Duminy makes it in in time with a dive. Jadeja then beats Vilas with one that zips away off the last delivery.