India v South Africa 3rd Test Day 2 Review: India set to seal the series at Nagpur

India is in the driver’s seat in the 3rd Test match and on their way to register their first series win over South Africa on this tour. Resuming the day 2 on 11/2 the visitors were put under pressure straight away and never recovered. Being bundled out for a paltry 79 in their first innings and set a target of 310, only a miracle can save the Proteas which is highly unlikely on this challenging pitch.

Dean Elgar looking to cut a seam-up delivery that came in was bowled by Ashwin in the first over of the day. Hashim Amla tried to play a sweep shot, however, the ball hit his arm, bat on the toe end, off the keeper’s shoulder and popped up for Rahane at first slip. Amla showed his sportsman spirit by walking off even before the umpire had given the decision. Jadeja removed AB de Villiers for a duck taking a return catch of his own bowling and left the visitors reeling at 12/5.

He also soon cleaned up Faf du Plessis for 10. Duminy survived when Kohli dropped a sitter in 2nd slip off the bowling of Ashwin. SA was 35/6 at this stage. The left-hander tried to counter attack and hit a couple of sixes, however, was running out of partners. Jadeja bowled a ripper past Dane Villas’ bat and knocked out his off-stump. Harmer got a brilliant carom ball from Ashwin which clean him up. The unplayable ball pitched well outside leg, turned and uprooted the off stump.

(Also Watch: R Ashwin bowls the ball of the year to Simon Harmer)

Duminy finally ran out of luck and was dismissed for a well made 35. Mishra picked up his first and only wicket by spinning one sharply which appeared to hit JP outside the line of the off-stump however, umpire Bruce Oxenford had no hesitation in lifting his finger. Ashwin’s caught and bowled of Morkel wrapped up the innings on 79.

The Indian innings began on a bad note. M Vijay was removed by Morkel in the 5th over as he nicked one to Amla in the slips. Pujara hit 5 fours in a positive 31 off 45 balls before Duminy bowled him with a straighter one which he missed. Dhawan and Kohli took the score to 97 before Dhawan went, trying to attempt an unnecessary reverse sweep off Tahir. He looked good and top scored with a fine 39 which included 6 hits to the fence.

The Indian slide began with this wicket as Kohli, Rahane, Saha and Jadeja were dismissed soon leaving India at 128/7. Rohit and Ashwin took the score to 150 before the latter was out for 7 to Morkel. Rohit made 23 before trying to flick the ball which went only as far as mid-on. Morkel continued having a good match by picking up 3 wickets in this innings. Tahir’s five-for ended Mishra’s enterprising 14 off 18 and ended the Indian innings on 173 leaving his team an unlikely target of 310 runs to win.

After a wayward start by Ishant, the spinners got their act together and Ashwin removed van Zyl in the 8th over. To a nicely tossed up ball from Ashwin enticing a drive, the left-hander hit it in the air and straight to short cover. The night-watchman Tahir hit 2 boundaries before being out LBW to Mishra for 8. Elgar and Amla remained unbeaten as SA ended the day on 32/2. 20 wickets fell today, it equalled the record for most wickets on a single day in Tests in India.

Brief Scores:

India 1^st innings – 215/10 (M Vijay 40; S Harmer 4/78)

South Africa 1^st innings – 79/10 (JP Duminy 35*; R Ashwin 5/32)

India 2^nd innings – 173/10 (S Dhawan 39; I Tahir 5/38)

South Africa 2^nd innings Target 310– (D Elgar 10*; A Mishra 3/1)

South Africa require 278 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand.