adminCAPTAIN VIRAT KOHLI struck an unbeaten 83 as India extended their lead over South Africa to 403 after three days of the final Test in Delhi. India, who held a first innings lead of 213, lost Murali Vijay in the fifth over and Rohit Sharma first ball. But Kohli, reprieved by TV replay after being given out on five, put on 133 with Ajinkya Rahane (52) as India reached 190-4 in their second innings.
India lead the top-ranked Test team 2-0 in the four-match series.
In his first match on his home ground as captain, Kohli revived his team after they had been 57-4, with South Africa seamer Morne Morkel claiming three of the wickets.
Opener Murali (three) looked displeased to be given out to a rising ball from Morkel that appeared to flick his armguard before flying through to leaping wicketkeeper Dane Vilas, shaking his head as he departed.
Morkel struck again in his next over to dismiss Sharma for a golden duck, the ball zipping past the bat and flattening the off-stump for his third single figure score of the series.
India could have been 58-5 when Kohli was given out after Vilas claimed a catch at the wicket, but replays showed leg-spinner Imran Tahir had over-stepped and a no-ball was called.
The skipper went on to his 12th half century in his 37th Test and shared in the first century stand of a low-scoring series in which South Africa’s highest total is currently 214.
A 3-0 series victory for India would take them to second in the world rankings behind South Africa, who will lose top spot if they are beaten in their next Test series at home to England, which begins on 26 December. — SuperSport
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