The Indian Cricket Team produced another great bowling display and are just 2 wickets away from a win on the 3rd day of 3rd Test match played at JSCA Stadium, Ranchi on Tuesday.
India got off to great start as Umesh Yadav produced a beauty to dismiss South African captain Faf du Plessis for 1. Zubayr Hamza and Temba Bavuma played with positive intent putting pressure on the Indian bowlers. It was an attacking display of batting by both these batsmen. The young Hamza showed his class against the Indian bowlers and reached his fifty off 56 balls. Ravindra Jadeja made the breakthrough for India as he dismissed Hamza for 62. Hamza and Bavuma added 91 runs for the 4th wicket. Shahbaz Nadeem got his maiden Test wicket by stumping Bavuma. Ravindra Jadeja produced another beauty to dismiss Klassen to put South Africa push on the back-foot. At lunch South Africa were 129 for 6.
Umesh Yadav took 3 wickets, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja took 2 wickets in the first innings.
Mohammed Shami got the wicket of Dane Pidet immediately after the lunch break. Umesh Yadav produced run out to dismiss Kagiso Rabada to derail the South African batting line up more. The debutant George Linde impressed with his technique and frustrated the Indian bowling attack. Umesh got the wicket of Linde for 37 and ended 32 runs partnership for 9th wicket. Nadeem ended the innings dismissing Nortje to bowl out South Africa for 162. Deciding to follow on, it was another perfect start for India as Umesh Yadav produced a beauty to dismiss Quinton de Kock for 5. Mohammed Shami wreaked havoc by dismissing Hamza, South African captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma in quick succession. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami bowled barrage of bouncers to Dean Elgar. South Africa went into tea break in tatters at 26 for 4.
After the tea break, Dean Elgar was forced to retire hurt. Umesh Yadav made another breakthrough getting wicket of Henirich Klassen for 5. Thenuis de Bryun who came as concussion substitute impressed with his technique. Linde, Piedt impressed with their technique and frustrated the Indian bowling line up. Linde was run out by Shahbaz Nadeem for 27. Jadeja got the 7th wicket for India by dismissing Piedt for 23. Ravichandran Ashwin got his first wicket of the match getting Kagiso Rabada. De Bryun remained not out on 30 and Nortje on 5 as India are on verge of whitewashing South Africa. South Africa ended day 3 on 132 for 8.
The Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first again. It was a bad start for the hosts as Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply to be reduced at 49 for 3. Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma counterattacked the South African bowlers. India ended the first day at 224 for 3.
The 2nd day saw Rohit Sharma and Rahane continued to attack the South African bowlers. Rahane completed his century. He was finally dismissed for 115. Rahane and Rohit added 267 runs for the 4th wicket. Rohit completed his first double century in Test cricket. Ravindra Jadeja scored another valuable contribution scoring 51. Umesh Yadav entertained the Ranchi crowd with a quickfire 31 off 10 balls with 5 sixes. India declared their innings on 497 for 9.
South Africa 132 for 8 in 46 overs (de Bryun 30*, Mohammed Shami 3/10, Umesh Yadav 2/35) and 162 in 56.2 overs ( Zubayr Hamza 62, Linde 37, Umesh Yadav 3/40, Ravindra Jadeja 2/19) trail India 497 for 9 d in 146.3 overs ( Rohit Sharma 212, Ajinkya Rahane 115, George Linde 4/133, Kagiso Rabada 3/85) by 203 runs.
