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NewsSportsCricketSA vs IND, 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights: Advantage South Africa as India crawl to 35/3 at stumps chasing 287

SA vs IND, 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights: Advantage South Africa as India crawl to 35/3 at stumps chasing 287

South Africa vs India in Centurion: India were 35/3 at stumps on Day 4 chasing 287 with Cheteshwar Pujara and Parthiv Patel at the crease.

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SA vs IND, 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights: Advantage South Africa as India crawl to 35/3 at stumps chasing 287
Rohan Sen
Rohan Sen
Centurion,UPDATED: Jan 17, 2018 12:50 IST

India's hopes are now pinned on Cheteshwar Pujara after they crawled to 35/3 at stumps on Day 4.

India 2nd Innings:

21:32 IST: STUMPS, DAY 4!

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21.11 IST: PUJARA SURVIVES! 18.4: M Morkel to Pujara, Lovely ball, almost gone! Delivered on a length just outside off, Pujara tries to defend thinking the ball would come in. It goes on with the angle and he gets beaten on the outside. Quinton almost leaps in appeal before withdrawing it. Hang on to your breaths. The reason for this is, SNICKO SHOWS A SPIKE as the ball passes the bat. Appealing when not required and not doing so when required, that's what has happened with de Kock here. The Indian no.3 lives on fortunes here.

21.10 IST: 18.3: M Morkel to P Patel, Look what a short ball that affects you can do. Patel hangs back expecting a barrage from Morkel as well. The pacer, realizing this, slips in a fuller one around off and middle. Parthiv chips it aerially towards mid on, where it last just short of Philander. He ends up parrying it to his right and a run results. De Kock has his hands on his heads and has to react quickly to collect the unanticipated throw from Vern.

21.07 IST: 17.4: L Ngidi to Patel, Another length ball on a similar length, Patel hops up to defend. Doesn't climb up much and he ends up getting it off the bottom of the bat.

21:05 IST: 17.3: L Ngidi to Patel, Oh my gosh! That's nasty. Parthiv Patel is down on his haunches. He fails to get this length ball, that is a touch short, away. The ball that is delivered at 136 kph, goes on to strike him on his ribs. He is down in pain as he is not wearing a chest guard. The Proteas come in to have a word with him and ensure he is all good. Good to see this sportsmanship among them though that wouldn't reduce the brutality that they will be offering to the batsmen. On another look, it is seen that the ball hit his gloves as well. Good for him as that would have reduced the impact on that. Nevertheless, he is good to go now. India 307 & 26/3, chasing 287, vs South Africa 335 & 258

20.58 IST: Parthiv Patel strides out to bat next. Surprising move? Not sure. If anything, India must have sent him in as an assured nightwatchman. Or maybe a left-right combination.

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20.57 IST: WICKET! 15.6: L Ngidi to Kohli! Game, set, match? The frustrating look on Kohli's face and the felicity on the South Africans' says just that. Ngidi lands it on a length outside off and it nips back in viciously. What's more, it stays low as well. Kohli hops up and looks to flick it away but misses to get hit on the front pad. Dead duck. The appeal from the Proteas is just a formality and they get the umpire's nod. Virat knows he is a goner but the value that he brings to the side made him opt for the review after talking with Pujara. India 307 & 26/3, chasing 287, vs South Africa 335 & 258

20.49 IST: 14.3: M Morkel to Kohli, Low bounce, that's what seems to be troubling the Indians here. Morne delivers it on a length around off, Kohli looks to defend it off the back foot. But the low bounce means that he ends up playing with with the bottom of his blade.

20.39 IST: Another change. The tall Morne Morkel will run in with the ball now. He's on the back of a four-fer in the first innings. On his home ground, his confidence will be taller than his height.

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20.35 IST: Virat Kohli walks in to bat next.

20.33 IST: WICKET! 11.1: L Ngidi to L Rahul! KL Rahul, what have you done? Brain fade? Overconfidence? Wonder what else it could be. Whatever it is, the young Ngidi picks up his second Test wicket. Now the voices talking about Dhawan-for-Rahul will get louder. His face hangs down in disappointment but he has nobody else to blame but the man whom he sees when he looks in the mirror. Ngidi bowls a harmless length ball outside off. Yes, HARMLESS. Rahul could have left it alone all day long. Instead, he hits it off the middle of the bat straight to Maharaj at backward point. The fielder would have felt like participating in a catch-practise session. India 307 & 16/2, chasing 287, vs South Africa 335 & 258

20.27 IST: 10.1: V Philander to Pujara, Full length ball outside off, Pujara hangs out his defensive bat at that. Gets an inside edge onto his pads. On another unfortunate day, his stumps would have been clattered as a result.

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20.23 IST: 9.1: K Rabada to Rahul, Intent. However, Pujara's heart would have been in his mouth. The former taps this length ball towards point and sets off for a run. The latter responds without any hesitation. He would have given an after-thought to that call seeing de Villiers get to the ball but does well to make it in. AB nails a direct hit at the striker's end but Pujara is well in.

20.15 IST: WICKET! 7.5: K Rabada to Vijay! Drags it on! Rabada draws first blood! An early wicket for South Africa. Rabada lands it on a length around off, jags back in and also stays very low. Vijay tries to defend but the ball takes the bottom edge and deflects onto the stumps. Not a lot Vijay could have done on that delivery. He walks back dejected and India have been rocked back early. 276 more needed. India 307 & 11/1, chasing 287, vs South Africa 335 & 258

20.11 IST: 6.6: V Philander to Rahul, Ho, ho, ho! That was close to the off pole and also stays low! He lands it on a length outside off, stays very low. Rahul is beaten as he tries to defend and the ball goes agonizingly close to the off pole. We saw many a deliveries like this during the South African batting but none misbehaved from the line of the stumps. This was very close though.

19.56 IST: 3.3: K Rabada to Vijay, FOUR! Top shot! Not an easy shot to play. Back of a length delivery outside off, Vijay rocks back and punches it through cover-point for the first boundary off the Indian innings.

19.53 IST: 2.4: V Philander to Vijay, Yes, no, yes, no and to Vijay's delight Rabada slips. Gavaskar on air mentions that the calling between the two has not been good. Vijay taps the length ball towards mid on and initially calls for a run. The two hesitate again but then go through with it. Rabada runs towards the ball and slips as he reaches to it. No harm done.

19.48 IST: 1.3: K Rabada to Vijay, Good length on off, Vijay taps it towards point and calls for a run. Vijay hesitates but they continue with it as Rahul responds to the initial call. Maharaj fires a wayward throw at the non-striker's end and the batsmen get an extra run.

19.43 IST: 0.2: V Philander to Rahul, Beauty! Fuller in length on off, shapes away. Rahul is draw into the drive but gets beaten. No need of playing those especially on the first ball. He has a smile on his face but that would have been wiped off had he edged it.

19.42 IST: 0.1: V Philander to Vijay, Good start for India! They are off the mark straightaway! Back of a length on off, Vijay guides it through point for a run.

South Africa 2nd Innings:

19.30 IST: India face an uphill task here as this is not going to be easy. Shami, Ashwin and Bumrah all picked one wicket each in this session. Faf du Plessis fell two short of his half-century.

19.29 IST: SOUTH AFRICA ALL OUT FOR 258, SET INDIA 287-RUN TARGET. 91.3: R Ashwin to Ngidi, OUT c Murali Vijay b Ravichandran Ashwin. South Africa have been bowled out.

19.27 IST: 90.6: J Bumrah to Morkel, FOUR! WOW! Where did that come from? Bumrah lands it on a length around middle, Morkel moves his front leg out of the way and hits it through mid on for a boundary. The crowd absolutely loves it as there is a big cheer. The Indian players won't like it though.

19.17 IST: WICKET! 88.4: Bumrah to Plessis, OUT c & b Jasprit Bumrah. South Africa have lost their ninth wicket. South Africa 335 & 245/9, lead India (307) by 273 runs

19.10 IST: Shami to Rabada, OUT! Edged and Virat Kohli made no mistake at the second slip and catches the ball. South Africa 245/8 in 87.2 overs, lead India by 273 runs.

19.05 IST: Bumrah to Du Plessis, DROPPED! That came back quickly though! Bumrah bowls it very full on middle, Faf drives it back uppishly towards the bowler who tries taking evasive action and also catch it at the same time. The ball hits him on his hands and onto the ground, Never looked like catching that one, Bumrah.

18.59 IST: 7 runs off the Bumrah over for South Africa. Du Plessis is now looking for some quick runs. South Africa 242/7 in 85 overs, lead by 270 runs.

18.56 IST: Bumrah to Du Plessis, FOUR! Up and over! Expensive start to Bumrah's over! He bangs it short on middle, Faf takes on the challenge of pulling it and he does well. He hits it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

18.54 IST: Shami to Rabada, FOUR! Off the mark after 20 balls! A top shot to get off the mark! Shami bowls it fuller on off, Rabada times it beautifully through mid off for a boundary. South Africa 235/7, lead India by 263 runs.

18.47 IST: We're back after tea! Ashwin is continuing the attack from Pavilion End.

18.26 IST: TEA!

18.18 IST: The new ball is now due! Will India take it? No they don't and Pandya continues.

18.16 IST: 79.2: R Ashwin to Rabada, Tosses it up on off, it turns away sharply. Rabada goes for the booming drive but misses. The ball beats the keeper and even goes past the diving slip fielder for a two byes.

18:14 IST: 78.6: H Pandya to Plessis, FOUR. This is Faf's first boundary in this session! Pandya bowls it on a length outside off, offers a little width. Du Plessis times it through covers for a boundary. The lead is now 250.

18.10 IST: Tea has been pushed back to 15 minutes.

18.06 IST: South Africa have not been able to show the kind of intent Virat Kohli's India showed.

17.59 IST: WICKET! 75.6: I Sharma to Maharaj! Another one bites the dust! Ishant Sharma raors in celebration as he gets his second in consecutive overs. He bowls it on a length around off, it straightens a touch. Maharaj pokes at it and gets an outside edge to the keeper, Patel, who takes it. Maharaj walks back early and the Indians are back in the game now.

17.50 IST: 74.2: Pandya to Plessis, EDGED AND GONE! No wait... the umpire does not think so! Hardik though was adamant there was an edge there. He bowls it short and outside off, Faf goes for the square cut but seems to have missed it. Parthiv dives to his right and collects the ball. Hardik makes a huge appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Pandya wants it to be reviewed but nor does the keeper and neither does his captain agree and hence they dont. Hardik walks back to his mark in anger but the Parthiv for once was right there as replays later on show there was no edge.

17.44 IST: Keshav Maharaj walks out to the middle. Also in the meantime the ball has been changed for mystery reasons.

17.44 IST: WICKET! 73.4: I Sharma to V Philander! ISHANT STRIKES! The frustrating 46-run stand off 156 balls has been broken! Sharma gets his first and he is ecstatic. He bangs it in short on middle, Philander plays the pull shot but does not time it. It lobs towards Murali Vijay who is standing in front of square for an easy catch. Philander walks back after playing a gritty knock. Also the nature of this partnership has not let the game slip away from India, this wicket has now brought the visitors back in it. Can they now trigger a collapse? The lead is 3 short of 240.

17.33 IST: 71.4: I Sharma to Plessis, in the airrrrrr but well short! India are desperate for a wicket. Ishant bowls a inswinger on middle, Faf flicks it uppishly but well short of Kohli.

17.26 IST: 70.3: H Pandya to Philander, There is a leg gully and Pandya is bowling to his field but Philander is playing it well. Hardik bowls it a touch shorter, aims it at the rib cage of the batsman. Vernon, quite comfortably tucks it around the corner for a run.

17.22 IST: DRINKS! South Africa are indulging in blockathon. Du Plessis has found a wonderful confidant in Philander who has helped him string a 43-run stand off 133 balls. 10 overs to go for the second new ball and that would be the only thing that we can look forward to unless there's something in the drinks that spurs the Indians up. Let's see what's in store for the remaining part of this session.

17.09 IST: 67.4: I Sharma to du Plessis, Bouncer around off, pulled all along the ground to deep square leg for one. Often we don't appreciate the beauty of this stroke as the replay makes me do. Faf had his eye on the eyes till the end and roll his hand on that to ensure he doesn't hit it aerially.

17.09 IST: 67.3: I Sharma to Plessis, Well bowled. Hurled just outside off, du Plessis looks to play it through the off side. Gets undone by the low bounce and gets beaten on the inside. The ball goes on the bounce to Patel. Shows the slow pace of the track.

17.07 IST: Communicating in a language which is not known to the opposition is so useful.... when India were batting we observed that Virat Kohli was talking in Hindi with his partners. Now, Faf du Plessis follows that principle and is talking to Vernon Philander in Afrikaans. Could have translated what he said... only if we knew that language... anyone willing to help?

17.06 IST: 66.6: H Pandya to Plessis, Hardik comes round the wicket and bowls it on the pads. The Protea skipper works it away to fine leg for one. The lead moves to 230 now.

17.03 IST: 66.2: H Pandya to Philander, Off cutter outside off, Philander goes for the drive through covers. Seems to have inside edged it. The ball goes on the bounce to Patel, who fails to gather it. Replays show the absence of an edge there as the ball spun in from the surface with a puff of dust.

16.58 IST: 65.2: I Sharma to Plessis, Gone! Oh no! It is bowled on a length just outside off, this one unlike others doesn't move away. It holds its line even as Faf is forced to defend it away from his body. Seems like a tickling sound came as the ball passed the willow but no other Indian on the field there felt so.

16.56 IST: 64.6: H Pandya to Plessis, Quick run there. Faf punches this towards covers and takes off to the other end quickly. There is a shy at the batter's end but it doesn't hit the stumps there even as Philander strives to make in and does eventually. Patel dives to back the throw up. The 200th South African run is up here, the overall lead 28 more than that figure.

16.54 IST: 64.3: H Pandya to Plessis, The decision wasn't surprising as it turns out. NOT OUT! Looked so to the naked eye as well, but it turns out closer than we thought. Pandya hurls this on a length around off and coming in. Du Plessis seems to be taken aback by something as he indicated so after missing the flick and getting hit on the front pad. Pandya says that there's no inside edge and hence Kohli, after asking someone else as well, perhaps the keeper, opts for the DRS. Time for a re-look. No inside edge on that as seen from the Snicko. Hawk Eye says that it would go on to clip the top of the leg stumps but the smallest of margins. Hence it is umpire's call and the on-field call stays. Thanfully for India and Kohli, the review is retained.

16.53 IST: Another review taken, more in hope than conviction. It is for LBW against du Plessis again. Seems to be sliding down leg.

16.51 IST: The lowest fourth innings total ever defended and and the highest total ever chased at the Centurion is 249. SA 335 & 198/5, lead by 226 runs

16.45 IST: Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are now bowling a wicket-to-wicket line against both du Plessis and Philander. SA 335 & 196/5 in 63 overs, lead by 224 runs

16.37 IST: Bumrah to du Plessis, NOT OUT! Bat only! Weirdest of reviews from India. Bumrah runs in and slips in a yorker in line of the stumps. Du Plessis seems to have dug it out well but his front leg was also close to the bat. India appeal but fail to get the desired decision. Kohli asks Parthiv, Pujara at covers and then the bowler before signaling for the DRS. The first replay itself embarrasses the Indians as there doesn't seem to be anything on that except the bat. Wonder why the bowler didn't spot this and help the skipper out in making a wise use of the review. One less for India now.

16.23 IST: Ashwin to Philander, FOUR! Too full that, grunts Michael Holding on air. Playing against the turn isn't easy and Philander needs to be credited for that here. Floated full and outside off, Philander gets his front foot down and drives it nicely through covers. Gets a boundary as a result.

16.23 IST: The Proteas will be looking to add some valuable runs in this session. SA 335 & 180/5 in 58 overs, lead by 208 runs

16.14 IST: Sunil Gavaskar on air says that there are cracks on the surface but they are more horizontal. These won't affect the batters as much as the vertical ones would, he opines. Explains why there hasn't been much to look forward to for the bowlers.

16.12 IST: This session will begin with Vernon Philander facing Jasprit Bumrah first up.

15.38 IST: Elgar and de Villiers looked assured when they started off. They stitched together a 141-run stand, the highest in this series so far. Although the former looked a touch fidgety, the latter more-than-compensated for that and was unlucky to fall short of his century by 20 runs. That gave India the little opening they needed and they picked up a couple more soon after. More fortunate were they to prise out Elgar as well.

15.30 IST: LUNCH! 26 overs, 83 runs, 3 wickets - these are the relevant figures for this session. The over rate is 13. Not encouraging. India should have slipped in a few more overs in a bid to eke out some more wickets but that's not to be. Aakash Chopra had tweeted this morning that India shouldn't expect a session filled with wickets and should be happy with something around 75/4 this morning. That's what has happened so far.

15.19 IST: 51.6: M Shami to Plessis, Knocked him over? No! It seemed so at the first look that Shami had breached du Plessis defenses. But it struck his thigh pad and rolled to the slip cordon. Lovely ball to end the over.

15.18 IST: 51.4: M Shami to Plessis, 2 runs. Run, run, run, shouts du Plessis as he flicks it through square leg. Pandya dives in the deep and keeps them down to two. The lead now reached double ton.

15.16 IST: 51.3: M Shami to Philander, Confusion again, could have proved fatal for sure. Philander works it towards square leg and sets off for a run. This time Faf responds. Kohli from mid-wicket gets there and fires a wild throw at the striker's end. Du Plessis would have been a goner had he hit.

15.15 IST: 51.1: M Shami to Philander, Early loud call from Faf! Remember the Philander-du Plessis history, right? In the first essay, there was a terrible mix up that resulted in the former's wicket. Here the skipper doesn't want that to happen. Vernon taps this towards covers and sets off for a run. A loud call from the opposite end makes him abort the idea.

15.13 IST: 50.3: R Ashwin to Philander, Spiteful turn at Centurion! Yes, you read that right. Tossed up outside off, the ball takes a puff of dust from the surface and spins in sharply. Philander has to go back hurriedly to keep it out and ends up almost playing it on from between his legs.

15.09 IST: 49.4: M Shami to Plessis, Full and slanting in, clipped away to fine leg for one. Pandya does the mopping up there. He hasn't worn that white lip guard today and hence my partner here failed to recognise him.

15.03 IST: 47.6: M Shami to Philander, That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh-pad. The batsmen have run through for a single. The Umpire signals Leg Bye.

15.01 IST: The next man in for South Africa is Vernon Philander. My colleague observes that whenever he laughs, a wicket goes down off the next one and that's what has happened even here.

15.00 IST: WICKET! Quinton de Kock c Parthiv b Shami 12 (5 balls). De Kock was trying hard to get out and he does edge one eventually! Generally bowlers strive hard to take a wicket but here it is the southpaw who tried hard and succeeded in gifting one here. Edged the previous three balls and got boundaries (the last one seemed an edge at the first glance). This one is edged again but goes straight into Parthiv's gloves. No mistake this time by the keeper. Hard to understand why you'd play at that repeatedly. Credit to Shami to be bowling in that channel of uncertainty. India making steady inroads now. South Africa 335 & 163/5, lead by 191 runs

14.58 IST: Shami to de Kock, FOUR!

14.57 IST: Shami to de Kock, FOUR!

14.57 IST: Shami to de Kock, FOUR!

14.51 IST: WICKET! Dean Elgar c Rahul b Shami 61 (121 balls). Is this the big moment that India need? The change of angle works for Shami. Shami comes round the wicket and bangs it short just outside off. It is angled in as well. Elgar instinctively goes for the hook and fails to account for the fielder placed in the deep. Hits it straight down Rahul's throat at deep backward square leg. He fumbles on the first attempt but manages to cling on and looks relieved to have done that. South Africa 335 & 151/4, lead by 179 runs

14.38 IST: Ashwin to du Plessis, FOUR! Nice way to get off the mark. Du Plessis does not seem to be out there to block his way out. Sees this flighted ball outside off, Faf gets outside off and plays the sweep. Gets it off the bottom of his bat but that's enough to take the ball roll to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

14.29 IST: WICKET! AB de Villiers c Parthiv b Shami 80 (121 balls). EDGED AND TAKEN! Shami gets the big fish! A huge wicket for India, the breakthrough they needed. He lands it on a length around off, gets some extra bounce off the surface. De Villiers tries to defend but is surprised by the extra bounce. He tries to pull his bat out of the way but is too lat in doing that. The ball takes the edge and goes to Parthiv who makes no mistake. The 141-run stand comes to an end and India will now look to capitalize. South Africa 335 & 144/3, lead by 172 runs

14.23 IST: Shami to Elgar, FOUR! Second boundary of the over! Not a good start by Shami. He bangs it short on middle, too easy for Elgar as he pulls it through square leg for a boundary.

14.21 IST: Shami to de Villiers, FOUR! Welcome to the bowling crease Shami! You just can't offer width to this guy he will pounce on it. Shami bowls it short outside off, a loosener. De Villiers guides it through backward point and into the fence.

14.19 IST: Ashwin to Elgar, FOUR! Not in convincing fashion but Elgar won't mind! Ashwin tosses it up on middle, Elgar moves his front leg out of the way, he takes the aieral route but does not connect it well. It still has enough to clear mid off for a boundary.

14.14 IST: Ishant to Elgar, FOUR! Fifty for Elgar and he gets there with the most convincing shot he has played till now. It is his 9th in this format. He gets a half-volley outside off, Elgar leans into it and drives it through extra covers for a boundary.

14.08 IST: R Ashwin is into the attack.

14.07 IST: South Africa 335 & 116/2, lead by 144 runs. De Villiers and Elgar's partnership has also crossed the 100-run mark

14.05 IST: Ishant to de Villiers, FOUR! Excellent placement! Ishant bowls it short and outside off, de Villiers places it through point for a boundary.

14.00 IST: Bumrah to Elgar, FOUR! EDGY FOUR! Kohli should have stopped that! Bumrah lands it on a length around off, it straightens a touch, Elgar tries to defend but it goes off the outside edge but well short of Kohlli at widish first slip who puts in a half-hearted effort and lets it through for a boundary.

13.53 IST: Virat Kohli has been fined 25% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in the ongoing Test.

ICC Press release states that Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.”

Monday’s incident happened in the 25th over of South Africa’s second innings when Kohli continued to complain to umpire Michael Gough about the ball being affected by a damp outfield following a rain delay, before throwing the ball into the ground in an aggressive manner.

After the day’s play, Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar.

13.48 IST: Bumrah to de Villiers, takes a single and that brings up 100 for the Proteas. Lead by 128 runs now

13.47 IST: South Africa 335 & 99/2 in 32 overs, lead by 127 runs. AB de Villiers 57*, Dean Elgar 38*. Current partnership - 96 runs off 159 balls

13.41 IST: Jasprit Bumrah joins Ishant in the attack. SA 335 & 97/2 in 31 overs, lead by 125 runs

13.38 IST: Bumrah to de Villiers, FOUR! Classic shot! Bumrah bowls it fuller on off, AB leans into it and drives it through covers for the first boundary of the day.

13.36 IST: Ishant Sharma begins the proceedings for India and gives away just 1 run. SA 335 & 91/2, lead by 119 runs

13.31 IST: We are all set for the action to begin. A new day and we hope to see a less agitated Kohli. He and his teammates make their way out to the middle. For South Africa, AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar will continue their innings. A minimum of 98 overs will be bowled today as we lost overs yesterday, due to rain and then bad light. Ishant Sharma will be bowling the first today. He has a widish slip in place. Here we go...

Day 3 summary:

AB de Villiers struck a sublime half-century as South Africa took a fairly substantial lead of 118 runs before bad light played spoilsport on the third day of the second Test against India at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Monday.

The match was interrupted twice. The game was suspended for an hour soon after tea break due to rain before it resumed for halmost half an hour. The proceedings were again stopped with bad lights soon after De Villiers reached his 42nd half-century.

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South Africa were 90/2 at the close of play with de Villiers batting on 50 and opener Dean Elgar at the other end on 36 not out.

Earlier, India captain Kohli, who hit a classy 153, played almost a lone hand in scoring half his side's runs but India were bowled out for 307 as South Africa (335) took a crucial first innings lead of 28 runs.

De Villiers took the attack to the Indian bowlers after South Africa had sunk to three for two in their second innings on a wicket that is more Pune than Pretoria, keeping low and taking massive turn for the spinners.

South Africa had been rocked earlier by a double-strike from Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who trapped both Aiden Markram (1) and Hashim Amla (1) leg before wicket with deliveries that skidded through after keeping low.

There would have been plenty of panic in the South African dressing room at that point, but De Villiers started playing attacking shots from the moment he reached the wicket to transfer the pressure back onto the tourists.

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