Thanks to brilliant centuries by Quinton de Kock and Dean Elgar, South Africa produced a great fightback at the end of day 3 against top quality Indian spinners played at Vizag on Friday.
Starting the 3rd day on 39 for 3, Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar started on a aggressive note hitting boundaries with ease. Ishant Sharma got the breakthrough for India as he dismissed Bavuma which kept low. South African captain Faf du Plessis came to the crease and counterattacked with aggressive strokes. Dean Elgar reached his fifty off 112 balls. It was an amazing batting display by both Faf du Plessis and Elgar who took on Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. South Africa went into the lunch break at the score of 153 for 4.
Soon after the lunch break, Faf du Plessis completed his fifty off 91 balls. Ravichandran Ashwin got the breakthrough for India dismissing South African captain Faf with a good catch by Pujara. Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar added 115 runs for the 4th wicket. Quinton de Kock came to the crease and put the pressure on the Indian spinners. Elgar reached his century off 175 balls a brilliant six. The Indian bowlers took new ball immediately. It was an amazing knock by de Kock who reached his fifty off 79 balls. Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock took South Africa to 292 for 5 at tea break.
After the tea break, Elgar continued his positive approach and reached his 150 off 269 balls. Ravindra Jadeja provided the breakthrough for India as he dismissed the dangerous Dean Elgar for a brilliant 160. Elgar and de Kock added 164 runs for the 6th wicket. De Kock completed his maiden century on Indian soil with a brilliant six off Ashwin’s bowling. Ashwin dismissed centurion de Kock with a beauty for 111 and then got his 5th wicket getting the wicket of Vernon Philander. South Africa ended the 3rd at the score of 385 for 8 with Keshav Maharaj and Muthuswamy at the crease.
South Africa 385 for 8 in 118 overs (Dean Elgar 160, Quinton de Kock 111 , Ravichandran Ashwin 5/128, Ravindra Jadeja 2/116) trail India 502 for 7 d in 136 overs ( Mayank Agarwal 215, Rohit Sharma 176, Keshav Maharaj 3/189) 117 runs.
