In the dying moments of Day 3, India got the crucial wicket of skipper Dean Elgar, the man who guided his team to a win in Johannesburg run chase. South Africa finished Day 3 with 101/2 on the board. The hosts need 111 more runs with eight wickets in hand on Day 4 to quash Virat Kohli-led India’s dream to win their maiden Test series on South African soil.
Controversy over DRS call
Hero of first innings, Jasprit Bumrah broke the second wicket partnership to send Elgar back to pavilion on a score of 30. Few overs earlier, Elgar survived a close call as DRS worked in his favour. While Elgar got a major reprieve with hawkeye showing that the ball was missing the stumps, it created controversy on the headline. With umpire Marais Erasmus reacting “That is impossible”, Kohli was furious with the third umpire’s decision as he deliberately spoke into the stump mic calling the broadcaster SuperSport a joke. Teammates KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin joined him as well in criticising third umpire Allahudien Paleker.
Petersen continues to frustrate
However, Elgar did not make full use of the decision going his way as he could add only three runs to his score. On the other hand, Keegan Petersen got runs quickly with Indian fielders chirping in the background. India leaked 31 runs in this period in just 5.4 overs. Petersen, the half-centurion of the previous innings walked back to the dressing room unbeaten for 48 off 61 deliveries.
Markram falls again
Earlier in the run chase, South Africa got off to a positive start with a few boundaries but once again opener Aiden Markram became Mohammed Shami’s victim. Markram scored 16 runs off 22 deliveries including four boundaries.
Pant lifts India single-handedly
Earlier in the day, South African bowlers started with a bang with two quick wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Rishabh Pant and Kohli steadied the ship with the 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket. While Kohli got out after scoring 29 runs, Pant fought the lone battle with wickets falling from the other end. No other batsman scored in double digits but Pant managed to score a record-breaking century and take India’s lead past 200. Pant remained unbeaten on 100 while India got bundled out for 198 in their second innings. Marco Jansen picked up four wickets whereas Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi took three wickets each.
