India get the best of opening day of third Test with South

Opener Shikhar Dhawan top scored with 39 while Cheteshwar Pujara contributed 31 to the kitty.

The third morning was a much better session for South Africa given the cluster of wickets that has been the norm in all the previous sessions. India might be slow in their approach to scoring runs, but as time passes by, they are consolidating on their lead. Sometimes it is going to be bowler-friendly and batsmen might not get many runs.

The defeat marked top-ranked South Africa’s first series loss overseas in nine years after the 2-0 setback in Sri Lanka in 2006. The duo put on a sedate 47-run stand to ease South Africa’s nerves a tad bit in the third Test in Nagpur. Prior to that, Dean Elgar chopped a short and wide Ashwin ball on to the stumps. Pujara is the next man in. They have done exceedingly well to overcome the challenge and now need to carry on.

Traditionally, India have been reliant on their batsmen to shore them upfront with tall first-innings scores and spinners coming into play later, along with scoreboard pressure.

Imran Tahir scalped a five-wicket haul to help South Africa bundle out India for just 173 in their second innings. Amit Mishra took the wicket of JP Duminy, who was the lone South African to pose some resistance with 35.

It was a day that saw a record-equalling 20 wickets fall and R. Ashwin and Imran Tahir take the honours by grabbing five wickets apiece, but it was hardly the kind of wicket that specialist batsmen can squarely blame for their misery. The out-of-form South African captain tried to sweep Ashwin, only to miss. Ashwin and Jadeja returned towards the latter half but couldn’t end the session on a high.

Jadeja survived a huge appeal in the 52nd over when, on 10, he was struck by a Rabada delivery which pitched outside leg stump.

The curse of 40 continued after du Plessis punched Mishra through cover for the first boundary in more than 25 overs, but when he went to repeat the same – having read a wrong ‘un – the long hop stayed low to hit his stumps.

Dhawan advanced down the wicket but could only manage to spoon the ball back to the bowler, who took a smart diving catch. Three chances missed in Ashwin ” s last two overs. Du Plessis’ scores in the Tests now read 0, 1 and 0 after 62, 51, 60, 17 and 133 in the ODIs.

Morkel bowled Vijay who meant to play through the leg side but missed the ball to be adjudged leg before the wicket (LBW). The day ended with voices of discontent being raised around the cricketing world over the state of the Jamtha wicket. In the absence of bowling spearhead Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel bowled his heart out for the Proteas and was rewarded for some excellent bowling. The variations from Ashwin were far more evident today and came to light once again when he got AB de Villiers, who seemed intent on taking the attack to the spinners. By the end of Thursday’s mayhem, Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar, just like the other evening, were the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease after the visitors lost two wickets in their second essay.