adminNAGPUR. — The third Test cricket between India and South Africa was tantalisingly poised at stumps yesterday on the first day after the South African attack spearheaded by Morné Morkel restricted India to 215, but the hosts’ double-strike in the last 30 minutes restricted South Africa to 11 for two.
Morkel nipped out 3-35 by expertly using reverse swing and his out-swinger to remove Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. He took over the role as senior bowler from Dale Steyn who was ruled out due to a groin injury and he produced a Steyn-like performance before he hobbled off the field with a leg injury in his 17th over.
The offspinner Simon Harmer was the best of the support cast and took 4-78 in 27,2 overs. He turned the ball prodigiously on a dry, turning pitch and was consistent throughout.
Credit must go to India, who struck back superbly in the final session on Wednesday. Ravindra Jadeja managed four fours in his 34 and shared in a 48-run partnership off 107 balls with WP Saha for the seventh wicket as India’s lower order rallied from 125 for six.
Ravi Ashwin struck in the fourth over as he had Stiaan van Zyl caught at slip by Ajinkya Rahane for a duck.
Imran Tahir, in the role of the night-watchman, was bowled by the left-arm spinner Jadeja for 4 as India slipped to nine for two. Earlier, South Africa kept their composure superbly after Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay had added 50 runs off 84 balls for the first wicket.
Dean Elgar took a return catch off Dhawan (12) to reduce Indian to 50 for one. Morkel, in his second spell, immediately produced reverse swing and trapped Vijay in front with a magnificent out-swinger.
Harmer proved to be a menace when operating from around the wicket and trapped Cheteshwar Pujara for 21 with a delivery that pitched outside the off-stump and turned sharply.
Kohli looked in good nick before he edged a sensational out-swinger from Morkel to Dane Vilas when on 22.
Harmer induced a false defensive stroke from Rohit Sharma, who was caught at short leg by AB de Villiers for two.
The counter-offensive led by Jadeja and Saha coincided with a slightly wayward spell from the leg-spinner Tahir, who was just a tad inconsistent.
Kagiso Rabada was excellent as Morkel’s understudy, and used the reverse swing and the out-swinger without allowing India any free boundaries. Jadeja dragged a delivery by Rabada onto his stumps as South Africa finally broke the stubborn seventh-wicket stand. — AFP.
Online Reporter