4th Test: Kohli and Rahane take lead past 400

With scores of 1 and 0 in this Test, Rohit’s batting average has dipped to 33.18; subtract his two centuries against West Indies in his first two innings back in 2013, and that drops to 23.38.

Morkel orchestrated India’s top order collapse, claiming two wickets in two balls in the morning after India, who have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, had opted against enforcing the follow-on and chose to set the visitors a target instead. But Delhi boy lived up to expectations of his local fans and after a 44 as his best score in the first innings here, he stepped up in the second essay to register his best score in this series.

Kohli, who has struck five fours, was adjudged caught behind off Tahir on 5 but asked to bat on after replays showed the delivery was a no-ball. South Africa’s highest total, in their first away series defeat for nine years, is 214.

At stumps, India have scored 190 runs for the loss of 4 wickets and now lead by 403 runs.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane helped India strengthen their grip on the fourth Test with South Africa as the hosts’ lead grew to 403 on day three.

Kohli risked being fined for showing dissent to the umpire when he angrily stood his ground, hands on hips, to show his displeasure when he was given out caught behind off Tahir.

They did so for over 20 overs, but with both batsmen scratching for runs they added just 45 before Dhawan was cleaned up by Morkel and Pujara bowled by Tahir shortly after to leave India struggling on 57 for four.

South African bowler Kyle Abbott, right, celebrates with teammate Morne Morkel after taking the wicket of Indian batsman Ravichandran Ashwin, left, on the second day of the fourth test match between the two countries, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015.

Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford reckoned that Kohli had got a faint edge to the keeper.

Kohli was lucky to get a let-off when he edged Tahir to the wicketkeeper.

The Indian team management promoted Rohit Sharma at number three, trying to give him some valuable time with less pressure and a sizeable lead on the board.

That was the only blip in an otherwise fluent knock by the Indian captain whose silken touch was in full display in each of the 10 boundaries he hit in his knock. The ball, delivered at pace, slanted in, pitched and straightened just enough to detonate the off stump. Off-spinner Dane Piedt chipped in with four wickets for the Proteas.