India stretch lead to 264 after Morkel’s double strike

Amla himself was not sure the catch was clean.

Rahane, 27, reached his fifth Test century and his first on home soil with a classic straight drive off paceman Kyle Abbott (3-39).

In their only outing before the three-Test series against world No. 2 Australia, the near full-strength Windies were facing an embarrassing innings defeat against a side featuring six first-class debutants and an average age of 21.

He also shared 98 runs with Ashwin, helping India steady the boat after they were struggling at 139-6 at one stage.

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.

After resuming at 231-7, India moved on to 326-8 at lunch, with Ravichandran Ashwin unbeaten on 53 and Umesh Yadav batting on five. South Africa will then have to bat out of the skin to prevent another heavy defeat.

Ashwin attempted a pull shot but was caught by AB de Villiers at mid-wicket.

It was way back in 1996 that an Indian batsman coming out to bat at No. 9 had scored 50 or more runs against South Africa since Anil Kumble’s heroics in Kolkata where he had slammed 88 runs. Off-spinner Dane Piedt chipped in with four wickets for the Proteas. Amla’s drop of Rahane on the first evening cost South Africa 49 runs, and he will need to produce something stirring.

Rahane impressed on the tours of South Africa and New Zealand and slammed a match-winning hundred on a green top at Lord’s.

Five balls into the final session, Jadeja (5-30) castled Bavuma to get his first wicket of the innings.

The in-form Faf du Plesis virtually gifted his wicket to Jadeja with a miscued paddle-sweep before Yadav sent J.P. Duminy’s off-stump for a walk with a handsome delivery that shaped slightly in after pitching. But television replays later showed that the ball did not touch his gloves.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan was batting on 31 at the break with Cheteshwar Pujara (14) at the other end. Four overs later it was Piedt (5) who drove away from his body and edged it to Rahane at first slip giving Jadeja his fourth wicket.

Obviously, the huge first innings lead and the amount of time left in the game ensured that they could play freely.

India scored 334 runs in their first innings thanks in principal to Rahane before bowling out South Africa for 121.

India’s batsmen will take fresh guard on a Day 3 Feroz Shah Kotla wicket with one intention – to be ruthless in their bid to force a historic 3-0 verdict against South Africa.