New Delhi:
Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami struck early on day three and it needed a gritty fifty from Faf du Plessis and a solid partnership with Quinton de Kock to give South Africa hope. However, Ashwin removed de Kock and when du Plessis fell for 64, South Africa were in danger of being faced with a massive deficit. However, Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander shared a record partnership for the ninth wicket to keep the fight going for South Africa. However, Ashwin struck towards the fag end of the day and bowled the Proteas out for 275, giving India a 326-run lead. Will India enforce the follow-on tomorrow?
16:30 hrs IST: Ashwin traps Rabada LBW and ends with four wickets. South Africa all out for 275 and India have taken a lead of 326 runs. Will they enforce the follow-on tomorrow? Remains to be seen
16:17 hrs IST: WICKET! Finally, the partnership is broken. Ashwin floats a flighted delivery on leg stump, Maharaj dances down the track but glances it straight to Rohit Sharma at leg slip. Ends a fantastic knock from Maharaj. South Africa 273/9, still trailing by 328 runs.
15:59 hrs IST: The partnership between Philander and Maharaj has crossed 100 and Philander nears a fifty with a glorious on the up drive through extra cover off Umesh Yadav. South Africa 266/8, still trailing by 335 runs.
15:57 hrs IST: With two fours off Ravindra Jadeja, Keshav Maharaj has ensured that South Africa have at least crossed Virat Kohli's individual score. South Africa 262/8, still trailing by 339 runs.
15:35 hrs IST: Keshav Maharaj slams his maiden fifty. He and Philander continue to frustrate India and this might force Kohli to rethink his strategy. South Africa 244/8, trailing by 357 runs.
15:18 hrs IST: Maharaj and Philander have now played close to 30 overs now. This partnership has crossed 60 and India are struggling big time. South Africa 230/8, still trailing by 371 runs.
14:49 hrs IST: The second new ball has been taken. India will be hoping for a breakthrough. South Africa 212/8, still trailing by 389 runs.
14:46 hrs IST: India have not yet taken the second new ball as South Africa continue to frustrate India. The Proteas are 212/8, still trailing by 389 runs.
14:13 hrs IST: The tail has yet again furstrated India. South Africa 197/8, still trailing by 404 runs.
14:03 hrs IST: The lower order have once again lasted for over 40 overs now. India really have a big problem in bowling the tail out. South Africa 195/8, still trailing by 406 runs.
13:37 hrs IST: Maharaj and Philander continue to frustrate India. Once again, the Indian bowlers are struggling to run through the tail and this might hurt them in the long run. South Africa 181/8, still trailing by 420 runs.
13:22 hrs IST: Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander are stitching a decent stand and South Africa are 170/8, still trailing by 431 runs.
13:04 hrs IST: WICKET! Finally, the resistance has ended for Faf du Plessis. Quicker ball pushed through outside off, du Plessis stabs at it and the edge goes to slip where Kohli takes the catch. Superb knock from du Plessis but South Africa are still trailing by a massive margin. South Africa 162/8, trail by 439 runs.
12:57 hrs IST: Du Plessis and Vernon Philander are stonewalling and making decent progress. After a slow start in which Philander scored just 1 off 33 balls, the batsman cracks a couple of boundaries off the spinners. South Africa are 157/7, trailing by 444 runs.
12:26 hrs IST: WICKET! For the first time, Senuran Muthusamy is dismissed in Tests. Jadeja traps him LBW and India are into the tail now. How much more can Faf du Plessis hold on? South Africa are 139/7, still trailing by 462 runs.
11:37 hrs IST: That is lunch on day 3. South Africa could have claimed the session as theirs but Quinton de Kock's departure, in addition to Theunis de Bruyn's soft dismissal have tilted the balance towards India. Faf du Plessis has stood tall amidst the ruins, with South Africa at 136/6, still trailing by 465 runs.
11:20 hrs IST: WICKET! Quinton de Kock is stunned. He just does not want to go. The flatter one from Ashwin, De Kock hangs back and plays down the wrong line but the ball clips the top of the bails and he has to walk back. South Africa are 128/6, still trailing by 473 runs.
11:17 hrs IST: With back-to-back boundaries off Jadeja, Faf du Plessis notches up his 21st fifty. It has been a fighting knock from the skipper who is leading from the front. South Africa 124/5, still trailing by 477 runs.
11:06 hrs IST: De Kock drills Jadeja to the deep cover fence for a boundary and the fifty-run partnership is up between him and du Plessis. The South Africa skipper launched Jadeja over long on for his first six and slowly, South Africa are looking more assured. The Proteas are 105/5.
10:54 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis survives an LBW appeal off Ashwin as the ball was going over the stumps. South Africa are 84/5 and this partnership will be key for their survival.
10:37 hrs IST: Du Plessis and De Kock are making steady progress but the Indian bowlers are maintaining the pressure. South Africa need to bat out of their skins and they have reached 72/5.
10:01 hrs IST: WICKET! It was only a matter of time. Good length ball and in the channel outside off, Theunis de Bruyn is undone by the extra zip and a hint of bounce off the deck and he edges it to Wriddhiman Saha who takes a good catch diving to his right. South Africa are 53/5.
09:50 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis uncertainly leaves a short of a length ball from Shami and the inside edge just misses the stumps while Theunis de Bruyn creams a four to deep cover. South Africa are 49/4.
09:43 hrs IST: WICKET! India strike and Shami gets the wicket. Back of a length delivery outside off and it hurries onto Anrich Nortje, he looks to run it down to third man but the ball takes the outside edge and it flies to Kohli at fourth slip who takes a catch diving to his right. South Africa 41/4.
09:36 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami starts well with an inswinger that nearly crashes into the off stump of Theunis de Bruyn but the Proteas batsman flicks a boundary past mid on. South Africa 40/3.
09:27 hrs IST: A warm welcome to day 3 of the Pune Test between India and South Africa at the MCA Stadium. South Africa are facing an uphill task. They are chasing 601 and are already three down.
