South Africa need 122 runs to win the second Test against India with six sessions left in the match here at The Wanderers in Johannesburg.
South Africa folded India for 266 in the second innings and then got to a decent start as their score read 118/2 at the Stumps on Wednesday. South Africa started the chase cautiously as skipper Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram survived a tricky phase before Tea on Day Three. Starting the last session of Day 3 on 34/0, Shardul Thakur got the visitors their much-awaited breakthrough as in the last ball of 10th over, the pacer trapped dangerous-looking Markram in front of the wickets for LBW. SA opener scored quick 31 off 38.
Keegan Petersen then joined his captain on the crease and the duo continued frustrating the Indian bowlers. After trying different pace combinations, KL Rahul went with seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin and the spinner soon delivered the result as he removed Petersen. The Proteas batter scored 28 off 44 before Ashwin trapped him in front of wickets in the 28th over.
After that wicket, Elgar was joined by Rassie van der Dussen and the pair ensured to end the day with eight wickets in the bag for the hosts. Earlier, in the second session, India added 78 runs after lunch to set South Africa a target of 240. Hanuma Vihari remained unbeaten at 40 while Shardul Thakur played a knock of 28 runs in 24 balls. For South Africa, Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen all picked three wickets to bundle India out for 266.
In the first session, South Africa fought back with four wickets late on Wednesday morning. Resuming Day Three, Pujara and Rahane added 70 more runs to the overnight tally before Kagiso Rabada got the breakthrough for South Africa. Rabada got Rahane out caught behind for 58 before trapping Pujara in front of the stumps. The right-handed bowler didn’t stop here and went onto dismiss Rishabh Pant as India lost the third wicket on Wednesday.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had steadied the ship for India with their respective fifties but Rabada removed both batters to lead South Africa’s fight back on Wednesday morning.
Brief Scores: India 202/10 and 266/10 (Cheteshwar Pujara 53, Rahane 58; Kagiso Rabada 3-54) vs South Africa 229/10 and 118/2 (Dean Elgar 46*, Aiden Markram 31; Ravichandran Ashwin 1-14)