Marco Jansen was the star of the show as his triple strike after Tea made sure India collapsed from a decent position. They were losing wickets like nine pins as Marco Jansen has 4 wickets in total to his name. India were reeling at 122/7 but this stubborn 52-run stand between Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar has kept South Africa at bay in the hour after Drinks. Despite that, South Africa in total control and hold all the aces at the moment.
Marco Jansen’s triple strike sinks India in the first hour after Tea
Captain Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja walked out to bat for India while Simon Harmer had ball in hand for South Africa. Harmer bowled a decent first over after Tea. Marco Jansen had ball in hand from the other end and he removed Pant for 7 off 8 balls with a maximum to his name as the batter played an atrocious shot. Jansen hit the deck hard on the off-stump line short of a good length. The ball wobbled back in a bit. Pant stepped outside the crease swung wildly across the line and the ball passed the outside edge through to Verreynne who made no mistake.
Pant reviewed in hope as the umpire had given him OUT and replays confirmed there was spike on Snicko. Poor decision from all ends from the Indian captain. Nitish Kumar Reddy came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Harmer continued and bowled a decent over. Jansen continued as Nitish delicately played it by playing with soft hands and guided it between second slip and gully for a boundary. Harmer continued and bowled another decent over.
Jansen continued as Jadeja got a triple off him. Jansen then got rid of Nitish Kumar Reddy for 10 off 18 balls with one four to his name as Aiden Markram took a blinder of a catch. Jansen bent his back and dragged the length much shorter and produced some steep bounce angling the ball away from the fourth stump. Reddy was trapped in his crease and had to play at that and got it high on the bat with the edge flying in the gully region. There was some gap between first slip and Markram who was stationed at second slip. Markram lunged leaped and then dived with his right hand full stretched and plucked the ball out of thin air. Washington Sundar came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Harmer continued and bowled a probing over. Jansen was on a roll as he now got rid of Jadeja for 6 off 18 balls thanks to great usage of DRS. Jansen bowled a short delivery angled towards the off-stump. Jadeja turned around not playing a shot and got hit on the shoulder as the ball flew in Verreynne’s gloves. The appeal was turned down and the review was taken by Bavuma. The replays showed the ball hitting the back of the bat after it hit the shoulder and was taken by Markram. Jansen had 4 in the innings. Kuldeep Yadav came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Harmer continued and bowled a maiden over. Jansen continued as Sundar hit him for a boundary by standing and delivering as the back of a length delivery was flashed away through the point region for a welcome boundary. Harmer continued as Sundar took him on and hammered him straight down the ground over long-on for the maximum. Wiaan Mulder came back into the attack and bowled a decent over.
Harmer continued as a big shout against Kuldeep was turned down. Bavuma reviewed in hope as the ball hit the gloves and was not taken as the appeal for LBW was turned down and they burnt a review as well. Mulder continued and gave away 4 leg byes to the batting side as a bonus. India crawled their way to 141/7 in 50 overs as we all paused at this stage for the Drinks Break in the afternoon session.
Washington Sundar-Kuldeep Yadav stand frustrates South Africa in the hour before Lunch Break
Simon Harmer continued after the Break and bowled a maiden over. Keshav Maharaj bowled from the other end. He too bowled a decent over. Harmer bowled another decent over. Maharaj bowled another good over. Harmer bowled another tight over. Maharaj bowled another good over as India were trying to put up a fight.
Aiden Markram was introduced into the attack next. Kuldeep welcomed him with a boundary by playing the late cut past backward point for a boundary. The 150 came up for India in 56.3 overs. Maharaj continued as Kuldeep got a boundary away by getting an outside edge as he lunged forward to defend which the ball went to the left of Markram for a boundary. Markram continued and bowled a quiet over. Maharaj bowled a maiden over. Markram gave away 4 leg byes to the batting side.
Maharaj bowled another quiet over. Markram bowled another decent over. Jansen came back into the attack and bowled another probing over. Markram bowled another good over. Jansen continued and bowled a quiet over. Markram bowled the final over before Lunch as the 50-run stand came up between Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. India took their score to 174/7 in 67 overs when players went off the field for Lunch Break. Sundar is batting on 33* off 66 balls while Kuldeep is on 14* off 82 balls. 9 extras given by the fielding side.
Marco Jansen has been the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of 4/43 in 17 overs. Simon Harmer chipped in with 2/61 in 20 overs. Keshav Maharaj chipped in with 1/39 in 15 overs. Wiaan Mulder bowled 8 overs for 12 runs while Aiden Markram bowled 6 overs for 11 runs. South Africa on top despite the resistance shown by Washington and Kuldeep.
What Lies Ahead in Evening Session
Despite the stiff resistance and mini fightback by India courtesy of Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, South Africa are miles ahead in this game and Marco Jansen has put on a show with the ball. India are still struggling at 174/7 in 67 overs and still trail by 315 runs and another 116 runs to avoid the follow-on. South Africa hold all the aces as we head to the final session of Day 3.
Let’s see what the final session has instore for all of us with India fighting a mountain of runs and pressure with only 3 wickets in hand.
Also Read:Â IND vs SA: South Africa Strike Late In Session To Surge Ahead