STUMPS - DAY 2

SA 32-2 (14 ovs); Target: 310 | Scorecard

Elgar (6) gets a lifeline as he hits an uppish drive on the leg side where Vijay is unable to hold on to a touch chance at short midwicket.

Tahir inside edges the next ball, as it goes fine on the leg side for a boundary, he has raced to eight from five balls with the help of two boundaries.

Ashwin gets one to turn square couple with some extra bounce as Elgar can only see it spin past him and admire. He flicks the next ball through midwicket for three runs which brings Tahir back on strike.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra comes into the attack in place of Ashwin with three more overs left in the day.

He strikes with his very first delivery, trapping Tahir leg before wicket for eight. That was the slider and struck the right-hander on the pads and looked to be heading straight on to the stumps.

That is the 20th wicket to fall in the day, including eight in the South African first innings and 10 in the Indian second innings and two in this innings already.

Hashim Amla walks in at No. 4 and he immediately gets off the mark with three runs through midwicket. Interestingly in repeat of the previous day, Amla and Elgar, who were unbeaten overnight on Day 1 are back at the crease again as we draw closer to the stumps on the second day.

At stumps on the second day, South Africa are 32 for two in 14 overs, still needing another 278 runs for victory with eight wickets in hand.

Elgar battled hard to reach 10 from 42 balls at stumps, while Amla is on three.

Another action-packed day in Nagpur as the Test heads for an early finish, with three innings completed and two wickets already down in the fourth innings.

South Africa are facing a daunting task of chasing 310 for victory which on this track is next to impossible with the ball turning square and the odd-delivery bouncing too.

India would be hoping to continue their dominant showing with the ball on Day 3 and complete a deserved series victory and also end South Africa's nine-year unbeaten run away from home.

SA 21-1 (8 ovs); Target: 310 | Scorecard

Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack after just three overs for Ishant with the new ball. He beats van Zyl with one that stays a bit low and goes through the keeper for four byes. The next ball again turns big as van Zyl edges this one but it falls safely.

Van Zyl's painful stint in the middle ends as he hits Ashwin straight into the hands of Rohit at short cover. The left-hander walks back for five, and has been dismissed all five times in the series by Ashwin.

Once again an early wicket for Ashwin as South Africa send Tahir in at No. 3 for the second time in the match.

Is Tahir being sent in as the pinch hitter? He lofts the first ball, he faces from Ashwin, over mid-on for a four.

SA 7-0 (4 ovs); Target: 310 | Scorecard

Ishant Sharma to open the bowling as he sends down a maiden over to left-handed Dean Elgar, keeping it just outside the off-stump and hoping the batsman will make a mistake which he doesn't.

Ashwin to bowl the second over. Facing him is left-hander Stiaan van Zyl, who defends watchfully against the off-spinner. Infact, he offered no stroke to one which went straight and passed very close to the stumps. He picks a leg bye from the fifth ball to get South Africa off the mark.

Van Zyl gets the first runs off the bat for the visitors as he steers a full wide delivery past point for two runs before Ishant gets one to go past the edge of the bat. Ishant bowls it short and wide as van Zyl opens the face of the bat and steers it past point for a couple.

Elgar gets off the mark in the next over with a single on the leg side off Ashwin before van Zyl manages to see off the rest of the over.

India 173-all out (46.3 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Rohit guides Morkel to the point region for one before Mishra flicks the pacer through midwicket for three runs.

Another Indian batsman throws away a start as Rohit chips it straight to Elgar at mid-on to fall for 23.

It looks like South Africa will have to bat for more than 10 overs if India lose their last wicket within the next few overs.

Tahir finishes off the Indian innings as he cleans up Mishra with one that slides and goes straight on to bowl him for 14.

India are bowled out for 173 in 46.3 overs in their second innings, setting South Africa a stiff target of 310 to win the Test match on a pitch which is getting increasingly difficult for batting.

Tahir was South Africa's best bowler of the innings and despite being introduced in the 25th over of the innings he finishes with five for 38 in 11.3 overs, while Morkel claimed three for 19.

South Africa have plenty of time on hand to get the runs but the pitch is not easy and both Ashwin and Jadeja are in top form. It remains to be seen if South Africa adopt a positive approach in the second innings and look to take on the spinners or continue in the same vein as they have been doing in the series so far.

India 167-8 (45 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Tahir in the midst of a superb spell with the ball as he beats Rohit a couple of times in his eighth over with the right-hander lucky not have to edged one in that over.

Ashwin gets off the mark with a boundary as he pulls a short ball from Harmer past short fine leg before taking a single from the next ball.

After 40 overs, India reach 147 for seven to stretch their lead to 283 runs with three wickets in hand. After a slow start, Rohit is looking good on 20 from 30 balls, while Ashwin is on five from 13 balls.

Morkel comes back, in place of Harmer and he strikes immediately. A full delivery accounts for Ashwin, who is struck right in front of the stumps to be dismissed leg before wicket for seven.

Amit Mishra comes down the track to Tahir and slams him back over his head for a four before taking a single.

Morkel cuts Mishra in half with another superb incutter which goes over the stumps but wicketkeeper Vilas fails to collect, to give away four byes.

Mishra looks in a punishing mood as he comes down the track and lofts Tahir over the off-side field for a four to take India's lead past the 300-run mark.

Rohit is looking quite solid on 22 from 36 balls, while Mishra has stroked 10 from 15 balls as India reach 167 for eight in 45 overs, to stretch their lead to 303 runs.

India 142-7 (38 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Jadeja doesn't survive for long as he is bowled by Harmer to become his first victim of the innings. He went back to hit Harmer through the off-side but ended up dragging it back on to his stumps to be dismissed for five.

Tahir beats Rohit with one which turns big before he sweeps the next for two runs. The next ball is pitched right up as Rohit plays a delightful flick through midwicket for a four followed by a single to long-off.

Rohit has decided to open up. He comes down the track to Harmer and hoists him over long-on for a six despite a fielder being placed on the ropes.

He tries to repeat the shot but this time fails to make proper connection as it goes on the bounce to Duminy at long-on.

India 128-6 (35 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Harmer to start off proceedings after the tea break. Rohit sweeps the first ball but gets a top edge which goes past leg slip for two runs but the next ball goes off the middle of the bat through the covers for three runs.

It will be spin from both ends as Tahir continues from the end after his fine spell before the tea interval. Saha plays a sweep along the ground to deep square leg for two runs before he comes down the track to Harmer in the next over and drives him along the ground through the covers for a four.

Tahir continues his wicket ways. Saha (7) looks to sweep the leg-spinner but it hits the gloves before it struck the keeper's boots and was caught by Amla at first slip.

Ravindra Jadeja gets off the mark in some style, hitting a full toss through the covers for a boundary before he drives Tahir down to long-on for one.

India 108-5 (31 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Rahane's poor run with the bat continues as another poor shot costs India their fifth wicket.

Rahane goes after a wide delivery from Tahir but gets a thick outside edge and is caught by Duminy at point for nine.

Rahane has struggled in his last six Test innings, failing to even get past the 20-run mark. His poor run with the bat must be a big concern for the Indians.

At tea on Day 2, India are 108 for five in 31 overs with an overall lead of 244 runs with both Rohit and Saha yet to get off the mark.

Tahir kept South Africa's hopes alive as he claimed three for eight in four overs after he was introduced late into the bowling attack, while off-spinner Harmer is yet to pick a wicket in 13 overs.

India 107-4 (29 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Ajinkya Rahane gets off the mark with two runs on the off-side followed by a single off Harmer to bring up India's 100, in the 28th over.

One wicket leads to another as Kohli follows his Delhi team mate to the pavilion.

And once again it is Tahir, who does the trick. Kohli looks to play the lofted shot down the ground but holes out a simple catch to du Plessis at mid-off to be dismissed for 16.

Ajinkya Rahane survives a huge shout for caught behind off the very next delivery before he slaps the fifth ball past mid-on for a four.

India 97-3 (27 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Finally, leg-spinner Tahir is called into the attack, to bowl the 25th over of the innings with India on 82 for two, with an overall lead of 218 runs. Kohli turns the second ball on the leg side for one before Dhawan is beaten by one which goes straight and he picks a single from the last ball to keep strike.

Dhawan sweeps Harmer fine on the leg side beating the fielder inside the circle for a four. The next ball is hit in the same region, this time straight to the fielder Elgar, who lets it go through his legs to give away another four.

He edges the next ball which goes wide of the slip fielder for three runs as Faf does well to sprint back and retrieve it before Dhawan takes one from the fifth ball.

Tahir makes the breakthrough in his second over. Infact, it is Dhawan, who gives his wicket away as he attempts the reverse sweep but ends up getting an edge to be caught behind for 39.

A poor shot under the circumstances as Dhawan throws away another good start. Clearly, captain Kohli would not be happy with Dhawan's poor shot especially when the team was progressing well and moving towards a good total.

India 82-2 (24 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Kohli also looking to be positive as he flays a full wide delivery from Morkel through the off-side for a lovely boundary as India's second innings continue to progress at a good rate.

Morkel again trying the off-cutter tactic, trying to get the edge of Dhawan's bat, who is pretty settled now and is able to deal with it.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir looking at his captain from deep square leg and hoping he would be called into action so but so far Amla is not interested.

Kohli pulls a short ball from Harmer through square leg, hitting umpire Ian Gould, who ends up saving what looks like a possible boundary.

India 74-2 (20 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Rabada gifts Kohli a freebie, half volley on the pads, which he flicks through midwicket for his first boundary.

In the next over, Duminy drops short as Dhawan pulls it through midwicket for a four to take the Indian lead past the 200-run mark. The next ball is full but is down the leg side as the left-hander nudges it fine for another four. It is a poor over from Duminy, who bowls a long hop again as Dhawan pulls it through midwicket for the third four of the over, which goes for 12 runs.

India are sitting pretty on 74 for two in 20 overs, having swelled their lead to 210 runs.

Dhawan is looking comfortable on 26 from 53 balls, while Kohli is on five.

India 57-2 (18 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Pujara inside edges Rabada as the ball goes past the stumps and the wicketkeeper for a four. The next ball is full and on the pads which the right-hander clips through midwicket for another boundary.

Pujara seems to be trying to lift the tempo as he repeats the dose in the next over from Duminy, hitting the part-time off-spinner for back to back fours. On both occasions, Duminy dropped short and Pujara had no problem rocking back and placing it to the right of the fielder at fine leg to take India past the 50-run mark, in the 18th over.

However, against the run of play it was part-timer Duminy, who got the much-needed breakthrough for the Proteas.

Pujara played down the wrong line, playing for the turn but the ball went straight on and crashed into the stumps to bowl him for a fluent innings of 31 from 45 balls.

Captain Virat Kohli gets off the mark with a single before Dhawan gets two runs from the last ball of the over, which is a full toss.

India 35-1 (16 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

The pacer from one end seems to be playing in India's hands as Rabada is not creating any problem at all for the two Indian batsmen, who seemed to have got his eye in.

Both Dhawan and Pujara are content to just spend time out in the middle and looking to singles and twos to keep the scoreboard moving.

Once against South Africa have delayed the introduction of leg-spinner Imran Tahir and they also seem reluctant to bowl spinners from both ends.

Dhawan (11) plays the sweep as he hits in the air but Elgar running back from squarre leg fails to hold on to the catch, further frustrating the South Africans on the field.

India are looking comfortable on 35 for one in 16 overs, having stretched the lead to 171 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Dhawan will be hoping to carry on his start and look to get a big one, he is currently batting on 12 from 45 balls, while Pujara is on 14 from 37 balls.

South Africa are looking to build the pressure with some tight overs as just nine runs have come from the last six overs, but India won't be bothered.

India 26-1 (10 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

Dhawan will need a good innings to get the critics off his back following a string of poor scores recently before he got some runs in the rain-affected second Test in Bangalore.

Harmer gets Pujara to nick one but the ball falls short of Amla at first slip. Good bowling by the off-spinners, looking to stick to the basics and hoping the pitch does the trick.

India playing out Morkel, who is trying to make things happen with the new ball, bowling slow balls in between, or trying to shape the ball in to Pujara, with a packed leg side field. At the other end, Harmer is picked for three singles in his fourth over.

Morkel bowling a packed leg side field to Pujara, who manages to steer the second ball to thirdman for one. Dhawan looks to pull a short one but is beaten by one which stays low.

In the next over, though, he connects with the sweep as he hits Harmer through the vacant square leg region for a four.

After 10 overs, India are 26 for one with Dhawan on 11 and Pujara on nine, for an overall lead of 162 runs.

India 12-1 (5 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

India lose the early wicket in the first over after the lunch break as Vijay is dismissed by Morkel, caught in the slips for three.

With the wicket offering spin, Morkel decides to bowl the slow off-cutter. The ball is full and Vijay looks to steer it to thirdman but ends up guiding it straight to Amla at first slip as India lose a wicket in the first over of the post-lunch session.

New batsman Cheteshwar Pujara gets off the mark with a four as he hits a wide half-volley through the covers as Morkel again tries the slower ball but errs with his length.

Morkel bowled his heart out in the first innings on a wicket aiding the spinners, and here again he is making an impact with his clever change of pace.

India 7-0 (4 ovs) & 215 vs SA 79 | Scorecard

India's second innings get underway as Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan walk out to bat for the second time in two days.

India would no doubt be happy to see Morne Morkel open the bowling for the Proteas. Even though he took three wickets in the first innings, India will find it easier to play against him than a spinner.

Dhawan watchfully plays out the first over of the innings before Harmer is called into the attack straightaway from the other end.

Two full deliveries which Dhawan defends before the left-hander steps out and drives him straight down the ground where the long-on fielders collects, to give away just a single.

Vijay gets down on one knee and sweeps Harmer uppishly past fine leg fielder inside the circle for a boundary which gets him off the mark.

Morkel bowls two maiden overs on the trot before Dhawan and Vijay pick a single each in Harmer's second over.

At lunch on Day 2, India reach seven for no loss in four overs for an overall lead of 143 runs.

The hosts totally dominated the morning session as their two spinners ran riot and bowled out the South Africans for 79 to seize a huge first innings lead.

SA 79-all out (33.1 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

This is South Africa's lowest total against India, their previous lowest was 84 at Johannesburg in 2006.

Ashwin finishes with magnificent figures of five for 32 in 16.1 overs, his second five-wicket haul of the series after he had claimed 5-51 in the first match in Mohali.

Jadeja also ran through the Proteas batting line-up, taking four for 33 in 12 overs, while Mishra managed one for nine in the three overs he somehow got to bowl late in the innings.

South Africa endured a horror session on Day 2, losing eight wickets for 68 runs in 24.1 overs.

SA 79-all out (33.1 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Mishra add his name to the wicket-takers list as he strikes in his third over. Duminy, who top scored for South Africa with 35, is trapped leg before wicket by Mishra.

The left-hander went back to defend but missed the ball and was struck in line with the stumps.

South Africa are reduced to 76 for nine in the 33rd over.

The tall Morne Morkel walks out to the middle as he gets off the mark with a single to long-off.

Ashwin finishes off the South African innings as Morkel is caught and bowled for one.

South Africa are bowled out for a paltry 79 in 33.1 overs in their first innings as India secure a big first innings lead of 136 runs that could prove to be decisive on this wicket.

SA 70-8 (30 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Finally, Amit Mishra comes into the attack, to bowl the 29th over after Ashwin and Jadeja claimed four wickets each. Unfortunately, he will have bowl at two left-handers at the crease -- JP Duminy and Kagiso Rabada.

Jadeja gets a breather after a superb second spell of three for 31 in nine overs in the morning to destroy the South African batting line-up.

Duminy takes a single from the fourth ball on the leg side before Rabada is struck on the pads by a big turning delivery from Mishra but the appeal is turned down.

Duminy tries to sweep Ashwin but gets a top edge which flies over Rahane at second slip for two runs before picking a single two balls later.

South Africa are 70 for eight in 30 overs, still trailing India by 145 runs.

SA 66-8 (28 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

And Ashwin does the unimaginable, bowling Harmer round his legs like a leg spinner as South Africa slip to 66 for eight.

That was like a typical Shane Warne dismissal with the ball turning in sharply from the rough outside the leg stump, opening up Harmer before it struck his pads and deflected on to the stumps!

Harmer walks back after scoring 13 from 10 balls as Ashwin and Jadeja both have four wickets each.

SA 65-7 (26 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Looks like Amit Mishra might not get a bowl after all, with both Ashwin and Jadeja turning through the South African batting line-up. Ashwin has three for 22 in 12 overs, while Jadeja has claimed four for 32 in 11 overs so far.

Duminy, on 28 from 42 balls, has shown some fight despite struggling against the two spinners, he even got a lifeline. He picks another single on the leg side before Harmer sweeps Ashwin for a boundary through the fine leg and picks a single with the same shot off the next delivery.

The first hour was a nightmarish one for the Proteas as they lost five wickets for 54 runs in 17 overs.

Interesting observation from one of India's spin great Bishan Singh Bedi on the Nagpur wicket, where the ball is turning square. He is not at all happy with the pitch and believes that South Africa must complain to ICC.

Bishan Bedi @BishanBedi "'Challenging wkt' my foot!Guy made similar pitches fr Railways in Delhi & the venue lost 1st class status!Official complaint 2 ICC on cards!"

SA 55-7 (23 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Good mix of attack and defence by Dumimy. The left-hander comes down the track and lofts Jadeja straight down the ground over long-on for a six.

Ashwin sees another chance go off his bowling as the edge hits the top of Saha's pads and beats Rahane at first slip, who goes the wrong side to take the catch. Duminy, on 22, gets a reprieve much to the relief of the South Africans, who have endured a horror morning so far.

But Jadeja cleans up Vilas for 1 as South Africa tumble to 47 for seven. Batting is an absolute nightmare on this pitch as Jadeja gets one to turn bit beating Vilas's defence, who can only watch it beat his bat and crash into his stumps.

Simon Harmer plays the risky sweep shot but gets the glove which beats Saha and goes for a boundary. He flicks the next ball through midwicket for three runs before getting a single to score some precious runs for the Proteas.

SA 36-6 (20 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Duminy gets a leading edge as he looks to turn Ashwin on the leg side but Pujara at silly point barely has time to hold on. Two balls later, Ashwin gets the edge off Duminy (13) but Kohli at second slip downs a straightforward chance.

Jadeja fires in a quicker one as Dean Vilas goes back and across but misses the straighter one. He is struck on the pads off the next ball as Jadeja goes up in appeal but it is turned down.

He comes down the track but is beaten in the flight and somehow looks to pad it. The deflection goes to Kohli at second slip who hits the stumps as the appeal is referred to the third umpire but the batsman has safely made his ground.

Duminy plays the sweep quite effectively as he gets a single off Ashwin to the fine leg region. Vilas gets a lifeline as Saha misses an easy stumping down the leg side off Ashwin.

SA 35-6 (17 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

The experienced Duminy sweeps Ashwin fine on the leg side for a four before he defends the rest of the over.

Du Plessis, who scored 0, 1 and 0 before this Test match, needs a big innings not only for himself but also for the sake of the team.

He is beaten by Jadeja as the ball turns sharply before he collects an easy single from the fourth ball.

Duminy comes down the track and whips Jadeja over midwicket for a four.

Captain Kohli has placed a few fielders in the deep, at deep square leg and long-on as Faf drives Ashwin to long-on for one and Duminy plays the paddle for another run. Faf seems to be getting a big confident as he flicks a full delivery past short midwicket for two runs and then turns the last ball square for a single.

Jadeja induces another edge off du Plessis which again falls short of the two slip fielders as they collect a single. Duminy taps the next delivery on the off-side and scampers across for one. This is good batting by the two experienced batsmen, trying to rotate the strike with regular singles.

But du Plessis loses his focus and has a wild swing against Jadeja only to miss it completely and is bowled for 10.

Three wickets each for Jadeja and Ashwin to leave South Africa reeling on 35 for six in 17 overs.

SA 17-5 (13 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

AB de Villiers comes down the track to Jadeja but is forced to defend after the left-arm spinner shortens his length. But two balls later, he offers a simple return catch back to the bowler to walk back for a duck as South Africa collapse to 12 for five in the 13th over.

Four runs needed to avoid the follow-on with five wickets in hand. Just saying! :)

Left-hander JP Duminy gets off the mark with a single before Faf du Plessis edges one which goes through Murali Vijay at second slip for a four through the vacant thirdman region.

SA 12-4 (12 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Hashim Amla's nightmare tour continues as Ashwin gets him caught at first slip caught off the back of the bat. Even before the umpire could raise his finger, Amla was already making his way back to the pavilion.

Amla walks back for 10 as South Africa stumble to 12 for four in the 12th over.

The South Africa captain went for the sweep but missed it as the ball hit the forearm and then the back of the bat. Wicketkeeper Saha was struck on the shoulder and ended up lobbing a simple catch to Rahane at first slip.

Amla has struggled big time in this Test series, scoring 51 runs in the four innings so far with scores of 43, 0, 7 and 1.

Out walks another out-of-form batsman Faf du Plessis to join AB de Villiers out in the middle.

SA 11-3 (10 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Ravichandran Ashwin to open the bowling for India on Day 2 and facing him is left-handed Dean Elgar.

Ashwin starts with a beauty, drawing Elgar forward and getting some vbig turn to beat the South African opener. Elgar looks at all sea as he is beaten again for the next three balls before he is dismissed.

The left-hander throws his bat at a wide one only to edge it back on to the stumps as Ashwin strikes in the very first over of the day.

When he walked out to bat, India were in a precarious position with all their top batsmen back in the hut and once again it was Ravindra Jadeja who played the rescue act.

On a wicket offering plenty of turn and bounce to the spinners on the first day of the third Test in Nagpur on Wednesday, Jadeja's knock of 34 proved to be very critical. It helped India get past the psychological barrier of 200, a rarity in the ongoing Test series which has been witness to some very low scores.

Murali Vijay top-scored with 40 before a mini collapse in the post-lunch session, triggered by Morne Morkel, saw India slip to 125 for six. All-rounder Jadeja staged the recovery act with a vital 48-run stand for the seventh wicket with Wriddhiman Saha, the second-highest partnership for India.

With the ball, Jadeja once again struck early, dismissing nightwatchman Imran Tahir for four after Ashwin had claimed Stiaan van Zyl to leave the visitors reeling on 11 for two at stumps on the opening day.

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SA 11-2 (9 ovs) vs India 215 | Scorecard

Welcome to the coverage of Day 2 of the third Test between India and South Africa in Nagpur, on Thursday.

India would be looking to cripple South Africa further with a few early wickets on Day 2 with the pitch expected to get worse for batting.

India failed to make the best of first use of the wicket, their batsmen capitulating against both pace and spin as they were dismissed for 215 in the first innings in the third Test against South Africa at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium, in Nagpur, on Wednesday.

However, the hosts hit back immediately, claiming two early scalps which left the Proteas reeling on 11 for 2 after nine overs at the end of Day 1.

India's spin attack again responded well, dismissing opener Stiaan van Zyl for a duck and Imran Tahir (4), who came in as a night-watchman.

Openers Dean Elgar (7) and captain Hashim Amla (0) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day.