South Africa 11/2 In Reply To India’s 215 At Stumps
25 November,Nagpur
Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja continued their merry-making as India reduced South Africa to 11 for two at stumps on the opening day of the third and penultimate Test at the VCA stadium here Wednesday.
Opener Stiaan van Zyl (0) and night watchman Imran Tahir (4) perished cheaply to leave the visitors tottering at 9 for two in reply to India’s 215.
At stumps Dean Elgar (7) and skipper Hashim Amla (0) were at the crease.
Earlier, riding on disciplined bowling efforts from the South Africans, India were skittled out for a paltry 215 in their first innings an hour after tea.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer (4 for 78) and pacer Morne Morkel (3 for 35) were the standout bowlers for the visitors as they did not allow the Indian tailenders to flourish with the willow. Dean Elgar and Imran Tahir and Kasigo Rabada took one wicket apiece.
The Indians could add only 64 runs in the last session before being bowled out in 78.2 overs.
Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha (32) and Ravindra Jadeja (34) provided some resistance to the bowlers before Rabada got Jadeja’s off-stump uprooted with a full delivery outside off.
A superb catch from JP Duminy off Harmer ended Saha’s stay at the crease.
Ravichandran Ashwin (15), Amit Mishra (3) and Ishant Sharma (0) did not trouble the scorers much.
Earlier, Morkel’s fiery spell post lunch reduced India to 149 for six in their first innings at tea.
Morkel scalped three quick wickets as India failed to capitalise on the good start provided by the openers Murali Vijay (40) and Shikhar Dhawan (12), who put on their second successive half century stand of the series.
But the loss of both the batsmen in the second hour before lunch followed by a dramatic collapse after the break left the hosts at a difficult 125 for 6.
In the space of 15 overs after lunch, India lost four wickets for the addition of only 31 runs after being 95 for 2.
South Africa hit back strongly through Morkel in the first hour post lunch as the hosts lost Cheteshwar Pujara (21), captain Virat Kohli (22) and Ajinkya Rahane (13).
Morkel, who got rid of Vijay in the first session, added the wickets of Kohli and Rahane to his kitty in a fiery third spell of 4-2-8-2.
Earlier, in the morning session, the home team lost Vijay and Dhawan to adjourn to the interval at 85 for 2.