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Wed, 24 January 2018
3rd Test: Bhuvneshwar strikes early after India post 187

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21:10   Bhuvneshwar strikes early after India post 187


SA 6-1 (6 ovs) vs India 187 | Scorecard

Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India end the first day on a high with an early wicket after the visitors had posted 187 on a difficult wicket on Day 1 at the Wanderers.

South Africa were six for one at stumps after Bhuvneshwar Kumar had dismissed opener Aiden Markram for two.

Dean Elgar survived a testing few overs to remain unbeaten on four, along with nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada, who is yet to score from 10 balls.

Earlier, Bhuvneshwar contributed with a handy innings of 30 to boost India's total.

Virat Kohli (54) and Cheteshwar Pujara (50) had hit half-centuries, adding 84 runs for the third wicket but the rest of the batsmen struggled on a wicket offering a lot of assistance to the fast bowlers.

It was a rare off day for South Africa on the field as they dropped as many as four catches, with Kohli being let off twice.

India won the toss and opted to bat on a wicket with plenty of grass and the home bowlers were able to exploit the conditions, beating the bat on numerous occasions.

Both sides have picked an all-seam attack for the game and it was a brave decision by Kohli to bat first under heavy skies.

They lost opener KL Rahul for a duck early when he edged Vernon Philander, playing in his 50th Test, to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and Murali Vijay (seven) also edged to De Kock off Kagiso Rabada (1-31).

South Africa made one change for the match, with all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo replacing spinner Keshav Maharaj. India made two changes, with batsman Ajinkya Rahane and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar replacing Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin respectively.

The home side have already claimed the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead but are chasing a first clean-sweep against India.
21:03  


SA 6-1 (6 ovs) vs India 187 | Scorecard

Bumrah gets one on the right spot, bounce and swing, as Elgar does well to avoid it before the next ball bounces more than expected and hits the left-hander on the elbow.

He immediately throws his bat and seems to be in a lot of pain as the physio comes out to attend.

The next ball is pitched right up as Elgar punches it down the round past mid-on for two runs and then picks a single.

Bhuvneshwar beats Elgar all ends up with the outswinger before the next one comes in sharply and hits the left-hander on the pads but the leg before appeal is turned down.

Bhuvi again beats Elgar with the outswinger before the pacer rushes back to the bowling mark to complete his over and leave some time for the next to be bowled.

Bumrah bowls the final over to nightwatchman Rabada, who manages to see it off and end the first day's play.


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20:50   Bhuvneshwar strikes early after India fold for 187


SA 3-1 (3 ovs) vs India 187 | Scorecard

After his good knock with the bat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will open the bowling for the Indians.

Dean Elgar taps the first ball on the off-side and takes a quick single to get off the mark.

Aiden Markram is beaten off the next ball as Bhuvi gets it to move away and go past the outside edge.

The right-hander clips the fourth ball through square leg for a couple of runs before he offers no shot to the last two balls.

Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the second over. He looks to keep it full and slant it across the left-hander who watchfully blocks. He switches to round the wicket off the fifth ball but bowls a bit too straight.

Not the best of starts by Bumrah as he sprayed it all around and hardly tested the batsmen.

Bhuvneshwar strikes in his second over with the wicket of Markram, who gets the edge and is caught behind for two.

Kagiso Rabada sent in as the nightwatchman at No. 3. The first ball leaves him before Bhuvi gets one to dart in and beat Rabada, who was looking to leave and he is lucky that the impact was quite high.

Bhuvneshwar then gets one to move away as Rabada is beaten outside the off-stump.

Superb over from Bhuvneshwar, who has already proved that India made such a big mistake in dropping him for the second game.
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20:33   Bhuvneshwar falls for 30, India 187 all out


India 187-all out (76.4 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara rallied India before they were bowled out for 187 in their first innings on a lively wickets at the Wanderers.

Kohli top-scored with a fluent 54, while Pujara battled hard for his 50 as the duo put on 84 runs for the third wicket.

However, South Africa claimed a few quick wickets in the post-tea session before Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with a handy innings of 30 to score some valuable runs at the end.

India lost their last six wickets falling for 43 runs and were bowled out for under 200, after they had elected to bat first.

South Africa didn't help their cause with their poor display on the field as they dropped as many as four catches, with Kohli being let off twice.

India won the toss and opted to bat on a wicket with plenty of grass and the home bowlers were able to exploit the conditions, beating the bat on numerous occasions.

Both sides have picked an all-seam attack for the game and it was a brave decision by Kohli to bat first under heavy skies.

They lost opener KL Rahul for a duck early when he edged Vernon Philander, playing in his 50th Test, to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and Murali Vijay (seven) also edged to De Kock off Kagiso Rabada (1-31).

South Africa made one change for the match, with all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo replacing spinner Keshav Maharaj. India made two changes, with batsman Ajinkya Rahane and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar replacing Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin respectively.

The home side have already claimed the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead but are chasing a first clean-sweep against India.
20:26   Bhuvneshwar falls for 30, India 187 all out


India 187-all out (76.4 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Bhuvneshwar taps Morkel on the off-side for a single before Ishant sees off the rest of the over.

Philander gets the first ball of his next over to move away quite a lot as Bhuvneshwar is all squared up. The next two balls again move away as Bhuvneshwar is left all at sea before Philander gets one to come in but the right-hander manages to block it out.

Ishant struggling as Morkel beats him with one that moves away before he nearly chips one to the fielder on the leg side as it falls just short.

Bhuvneshwar looking to score some runs as he drives Philander through the covers for two runs but can't get the single off the last two balls to keep strike.

Rabada comes back and immediately strikes with the first ball of his new spell.

Ishant's struggle comes to an end as he edges a full delivery from Rabada and Faf du Plessis does well to take a low catch diving forward.

Ishant walks back without troubling the scorers as India lose their ninth wicket.

The ball is still doing quite a bit as new batsman Jasprit Bumrah pokes his bat at a wide outswinger and is beaten.

The next ball deviates a long way coming into Bumrah, who is hit on the pads and the ball goes fine on the leg side and umpire Aleem Dar calls it four byes.

South Africa, who have two DRS reviews in hand, take the review but the decision stays as the ball slips down the leg side.

Bumrah somehow manages to block the last three balls which also gets Bhuvi back on strike for the next over.

Bhuvneshwar looks to heave Philander on the leg side but gets a thick inside edge for two runs to square leg.

But he gets the next ball off the middle, smashing it straight back past the bowler for a four.

Bhuvneshwar has another go but fails to make proper connection before he is beaten off the next ball.

Bhuvi does well to steer the fifth ball to the fielder at fly slip kept a bit deep for one, to keep strike and expose Bumrah for just the last ball.

The last ball is full and moves away but it is good for a No. 11 batsman who misses it by a long way.

Bhuvneshwar continues to attack. In the next over, he lofts Rabada down the ground but Ngidi back tracking from mid-on is unable to judge the ball cleanly to continue South Africa's poor day in the field.

The next ball is a teaser again as Bhuvi's chip just about evades the fielder at short cover for another couple of runs before he steals a quick bye off the last ball to keep strike.

Ngidi comes back from the other end, replacing Philander. Bhuvneshwar continues his positive approach as he clubs a length ball from Ngidi down the ground for a four.

He asks the non-striker Bumrah in Hindi if he would be able to play the last two balls who replies saying just give me the last ball.

Bhuvneshwar clips the fourth ball to fine leg but turns down the single. Ngidi bowls an awkward bounce which Bhuvneshwar looks to avoid but it hits the bat which is still pointing up for a single to on the leg side as the ball falls safely before Bumrah offers no shot to the last ball.

Rabada from round the wicket, bowling bouncers to Bhunveshwar with a couple of fielders placed close in on the leg side.

He ducks under a couple of them before he has a go but is caught at deep midwicket to perish for 30.
19:48   Pandya falls for a duck, India 7 down


India 163-8 (68 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

The wickets are falling pretty quickly after tea. Morkel comes back for a new spell and strikes in the first over of his new spell.

Parthiv flashes hard at a wide delivery but only manages the edge and is caught behind for two.

In the next over, Pandya gives his wicket away with another reckless shot.

He goes for a wild slog across the line on the leg side but gets a top edge and wicketkeeper de Kock completes a good catch running behind.

Pandya falls for a duck as India slip to 144 for seven, losing three wickets from the last 12 balls.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets off the mark in positive fashion, throwing his bat at a wide one to get a boundary through the covers.

He goes hard after the next ball, short and wide outside the off-stump, but is beaten. Bhuvi steers the last ball past point for a couple of runs.

Morkel bowls a cracking delivery to Shami, short and on the body as the batsman tries to fend it awkwardly but the ball falls safely on the off-side.

Shami looks to slash a short ball but he fails to get hold of it and he somehow manages to clear the fielder placed halfway down to the thirdman fence.

Shami taking a few risks. He plays another wild shot and is unable to make proper connection as the ball falls short of the fielder on the leg side.

In the next over, Shami guides Morkel square on the off-side for two runs and then takes a single.

Morkel gets Bhuvneshwar to edge one but it goes in the gap between the slips for a boundary.

Philander comes back and strikes with the wicket of Shami, who looks for  big hit down the ground but is caught at mid-off for eight.

India in danger of being bowled out before 200 as they are reduced to 163 for eight in 68 overs.
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19:13   Pujara out for 50, India 5 down


India 144-5 (62 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Fifth bowler Phehlukwayo makes the breakthrough for South Africa with the key wicket of Pujara.

He comes forward to defend but the ball is slightly wider and moves away a bit to take the edge which is caught behind.

Pujara walks back after a patient innings of 50 from 179 balls, as India are reduced to 144 for five.

It will be interesting to see Hardik Pandya's approach. India would be hoping the last five wickets can survive the day and take the total past the 200-run mark.
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19:06   Pujara completes half-century


India 143-4 (61 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Parthiv keen to get off the mark as he flashes at a wide delivery from Rabada but is beaten. He then taps the next ball to the covers and takes a quick single.

The last ball jags in sharply and also rises as Parthiv is beaten as he tries to defend.

Ngidi bowls a loose delivery, short and wide, and Pujara hammers it square on the off-side for a four. Two balls later, he clips it square on the leg side and settles for one when he could have tried to steal a second.

Andile Phuhlukwayo back into the attack. He bowls one on the pads as Pujara clips it fine on the leg side for a four and then takes a single.

Pujara is nearly involved in another run out as Parthiv is halfway down the pitch after hitting it into the covers but has to rush back and is lucky that the fielder didn't pick up the ball cleanly.

In the next over, Pujara steers Ngidi square on the off-side for two runs to bring up his 17th Test fifty. It has taken him a long time for sure, taking 173 balls after more than four hours at the crease but importantly for India he didn't throw away the start and has frustrated the South African fast bowlers with his dogged approach.
18:48   Rahane fails with the bat, SA on top


India 129-4 (57 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Rabada starts off with the ball after the tea break. Pujara is again hit on the body by the incoming delivery from the fast bowler before he punches a full delivery down the ground past mid-on for three runs.

Ngidi from the other end. He starts with a short wide ball as Pujara smacks it through the off-side for a four but is beaten off the next ball as he tries to drive a full delivery.

Ngidi's last ball is again full and moves away beating Pujara on the outside edge.

Parthiv Patel edges Rabada in the next over but it falls short of the fielder in the gully.

Ngidi tries a quick ball on Pujara's body but it goes way down the leg side, beating even wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for four byes.

Later in the over, Pujara slaps a wide half-volley through the covers for a four as he looks to adopt a positive approach after the tea break.
18:45   Rahane fails with the bat, India 114-4 at tea


India 114-4 (53 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Captain Virat Kohli hit a half-century before South Africa pulled back things with a couple of late wickets to reduce India to 114 for four in 53 overs at tea on Day 1.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who took 54 balls to get off the mark, was battling hard on a gritty knock of 27 not out from 145 balls, while Parthiv Patel was yet to get off the mark.

India lost two late wickets in the session, that of Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane as South Africa took the upperhand.

Kohli, who was dropped twice, was caught at third slip off Lungi Ngidi for 54.

Kohli batted well with a positive intent to rally India after the openers had perished early in the morning session.

Rahane also got a reprieve when he was caught off a no-ball but he failed to make most of the opportunity and was trapped leg before wicket for nine by Morne Morkel.

Overall, India scored 69 runs in 26 overs for the loss of two wickets in the post-lunch session.
18:04   Rahane fails with the bat, India in trouble


India 113-4 (51.4 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Pujara finally shows some intent as he slashes hard at a wide short delivery from Philander, hitting it over the slips for a four.

In the next over, Rahane plays a beautiful drive through the covers for a boundary, his first of the innings, which would make him feel confident after the initial reprieve early on.

Two balls later, Rahane goes for the pull but can't beat the fielder at square leg.

But he falls off the very next delivery as Rahane plays right back to a full delivery but misses and is given out leg before wicket.

Rahane consults Pujara before he decides to take the review.

Rahane played down the wrong line and was struck on the front pad with the ball going on to the clip the outside of leg stump as the decision stays.

Rahane walks back for nine to leave India in trouble on 113 for four.
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17:56   Kohli falls for 54, India 3 down


India 104-3 (50 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

That wicket will dent India big time as far as their scoring rate is concerned. Kohli was looking to be positive and keep the scoreboard ticking while Pujara looked to just stay at the wicket at the other end.

Now with Kohli gone, Pujara will have to take the impetus and take some pressure off Rahane, who is making a comeback to the Test team.

Pujara sticks to his Plan A as he plays out another maiden over from Rabada.

In the next over, Rahane guides Ngidi past point for a couple of runs to get off the mark.

Morkel comes back, taking over from Rabada. Rahane has a nervous poke outside the off-stump but is beaten as the ball moves away before het aps the fifth ball on the leg side for one.

Philander comes back and strikes with the wicket of Rahane in the first over of his new spell.

But to South Africa's horror, Philander has overstepped and Rahane (3) has got a much-needed lifeline as it called as a no-ball.

Kohli was dropped twice and now Rahane has been caught off a no-ball, it has not been a good outing on the field for the Proteas so far.

Rahane looking shaky outside the off-stump as he looks to leave the ball quite late but it ends up hitting the bottom as he tries to withdraw, going past point for two runs.

India have reached 104 for three in 50 overs, with Pujara on 22 from 135 balls, with Rahane is on five from 22 balls.
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17:23   Kohli falls for 54, India 3 down


India 97-3 (43 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

However, Kohli doesn't last long after getting to his half-century. He throws his bat at a wide one from Ngidi and gets the edge and this time AB de Villiers does well to hold on to the catch at third slip.

Kohli walks back after a fine innings of 54, having added 84 runs for the third wicket with Pujara to bring India back on track.

Ngidi's parents, who are watching him bowl live from the stands, are delighted and they celebrate the wicket in the stands. This is the first time they have come to a cricket stadium to watch their son playing cricket.

Ajinkya Rahane back in the team in place of Rohit, comes in at No. 5 with a huge task ahead of him.

17:17   Kohli hits half-century to lead India's fine recovery


India 95-2 (42 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Ngidi tries the yorker but Pujara keeps it out and continues to defend solidly. He has looked much better after the lunch interval as India close in on the 100-run mark.

South Africa will be frustrated and they have no one else but themselves to be blamed.

Kohli has been dropped twice so far, while they failed to take the DRS for a leg before wicket appeal against Pujara, which would have gone in their favour.

Rabada tries a short ball at Kohli, who goes for the pull shot but is beaten down the leg side.

Two balls later, Kohli connects with the pull, smashing it square on the leg side to bring up his fifty in grand style, from 101 balls.
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17:06  


India 90-2 (40 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

It's turning out to be an exciting contest between Rabada and Kohli.

Kohli gets a thick outside edge and wants to steal a quick single to gully but Pujara turns down the call.

Rabada then bowls a fast bouncer which Kohli ducks under before smashing the last ball through the off-side for a boundary to inch closer to his fifty.

Pujara continues to be patient and block everything bowled at him. Morkel drifts slightly on the pads as Pujara clips it to square leg for one.

Kohli then plays a wild shot, throwing his bat at a wide short ball but is beaten.

Pujara plays out another maiden over from Rabada as his delivery count goes over the 100 mark, scoring only 20 runs in the process. Forget the runs though! Pujara has fought on bravely and proved to be the ideal foil for Kohli, who has shown intent from the other end and looked to keep the runs coming.

Ngidi comes back into the attack. Kohli looking a bit shaky in the last few overs, trying to to get his half-century. He plays another loose shot off Ngidi and is beaten outside the off-stump before he defends the rest of the over.

Pujara quietly takes another single before Rabada bowls a very quick bouncer to Kohli, who goes comfortably over him and even beats the wicketkeeper for five wides.

This has been a good effort by India as they continue to battle hard to take the score to 90 for two in 40 overs.

Kohli has scored more than half of the runs, hitting 47 from 98 balls, while an ultra-cautious Pujara has made 21 from 104 balls.
16:46  


India 79-2 (35 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Kohli defends Morkel just outside the off-stump before the pacer bowls it very wide outside the off-stump and gets it to move away as wicketkeeper de Kock does well to stop it in front of the lips.

The next ball is closer to the off-stump and bounces quite a lot as Kohli will consider himself lucky that his bat was nowhere close to the ball.

Kohli then steers the last ball as he gets on top of the bounce and steers it past the slips for a four to raise the 50-run stand for the third wicket.

In the next over, Pujara is again hit on the body as Philander gets the ball to jag in sharply coupled with extra bounce.

DROPPED! Kohli, on 32, gets another lifeline as AB de Villiers puts down a simple catch at third slip.

He nearly gets Kohli to edge it again as the ball beats the right-hander outside the off-stump courtesy of some bounce and movement and does it again off the last ball.

In the next over, Pujara punches a full delivery from Philander straight down the ground for a four.

Kohli repeats the shot off the very next delivery as in the following over he crashes a half-volley from Morkel straight past mid-off for a boundary.

Morkel nearly gets revenge as Kohli gets an inside edge which narrowly misses the stumps and goes behind the stumps for a four.

A frustrated Morkel loses his radar as he bowls a big wide outside the off-stump before Kohli taps the fifth ball to the covers and takes a quick single.

This is proving to be a good partnership for India and things have improved after lunch with the score reaching 79 for two in 35 overs, having scored 34 runs from eight overs since the lunch break.
16:23   Kohli, Pujara rally India after early wickets


India 59-2 (30 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Philander to start off with the ball after the lunch interval. Pujara blocks the first ball on the leg side and defends the next one. He then takes a single off the fifth ball before leaving the last ball alone.

Morne Morkel to bowl from the other end. Pujara defends the first three balls before he takes a single and Kohli is beaten by one which bounces and also moves away.

He still goes after a wide delivery, driving it through the covers for a four.

In the next over, Pujara breaks free with back to back fours off Philander. The first ball is short as Pujara cuts it past point and then hits the next ball through the covers for two boundaries in a row.
15:35   Kohli, Pujara rally India to 45-2 at lunch on Day 1


India 45-2 (27 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara battled hard to steady India and guide them to 45 for two in 27 overs at lunch on Day 1.

Kohli was unbeaten on 24 from 58 balls, while Pujara, who took 54 balls to get off the mark, was five not out from 66 balls.

Interestingly, India opted to bat on a seamer-friendly wicket after going in with five fast bowlers.

India lost both their openers early as KL Rahul (0) and Murali Vijay (8) were both caught behind off Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada respectively.

Kohli and Pujara weathered a tough morning session with the fast bowlers getting plenty of assistance from a lively track.

Kohli was lucky to get a lifeline with his score on 11 as Philander put down a simple catch off Rabada, while Pujara survived a close shout for LBW after South Africa decided not take the DRS, which would have gone in their favour.
15:30  


India 45-2 (27 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Pujara finally gets off the mark, after a long wait of 54 deliveries, with a single on the leg side.

He gets a huge applause from the crowd at the Wanderers and his team-mates in the dressing room and Pujara can't help smiling about it.

Kohli clips the last ball on the leg side for two runs after he beaten off the previous delivery by Ngidi outside the off-stump.

Medium pacer Andile Phehlukwayo comes into the attack in place of Rabada, who bowled a testing first spell of seven overs.

Phehlukwayo's pace is much less as compared to the other fast bowlers who have bowled before him. Pujara clips the first ball on the leg side for two runs and then takes one off the fourth ball.

Kohli drives the fifth ball through the off-side for two runs and then takes one off the last ball to keep strike.

Ngidi giving Kohli some problems as the India captain gets an inside edge this time but it goes back on to his pads.

Pujara clips Phehlukwayo on the leg side for one before Kohli smashes a short wide delivery past the gully fielder for a four as India reach 45 for two in 25 overs.

Ngidi gets one to bounce and come in as Pujara does well to keep it down and does the same with the next delivery.

He gets one to bounce alarmingly off length which Pujara tries to defend but is beaten by the bounce and hit on the body.

Phehlukwayo has not made so much of an impression with the ball. Kohli drives one straight back but the bowler does well on his follow through before the captain plays out a maiden over.
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15:04   Kohli, Pujara steady India after early wickets


India 31-2 (21 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Philander bowls another superb delivery as Pujara is beaten all ends up outside the off-stump. He is surviving somehow against the fast bowlers and is not too bothered about not getting off the mark.

Kohli turns Rabada on the leg side for a single before Pujara continues to defend watchfully to continue to be without a run.

Philander getting a long first spell as he continues to bowl his eighth over on the trot. The first ball comes in sharply and bounces as Kohli is hit on the thighpad before the India captain plays another maiden over, the fourth in a row for Philander and his seventh out of eight overs bowled so far.

Rabada gets Pujara to edge one but it goes along the ground and the fielder in the gully does well to stop it. He again edges the next ball and the fielder in the slips does well to stop it.

Pujara is no hurry to get off the mark as he plays out a maiden from Rabada, and is yet to score a run from 43 balls faced so far.

Lungi Ngidi comes into the attack after a splendid first spell from Philander, in which he took one for one in eight overs, including seven maidens.

The second ball is down the leg side as wicketkeeper de Kock does well to come up with a diving stop to his left and save some runs. Kohli picks a leg bye before Pujara misses the flick and ends up with a leg bye.

Kohli flashes at a wide delivery from Ngidi and is beaten before a short ball down the leg side beats him before de Kock makes another good stop to give away just one leg bye.

Kohli clips Rabada past mid-on for two runs before he gets an edge but it goes along the ground to the slips.

Kohli clips the last ball through the leg side for two more runs to take his score to 11.

Ngidi beats Pujara with one that comes in sharply and hits him on the pads but the umpire turns down the confident leg before shout.

Pujara completes the half-century he won't be proud of, 50 dot balls in a row without scoring a run.

The ball tracker shows that Pujara was lucky to survive that leg before shout. Infact, if South Africa had taken the DRS, that would have gone in their favour with the ball going on to hit the leg stump.

He had an opportunity to get some runs off the last ball as he flicked a full delivery off his pads but could not beat the fielder at midwicket.

Kohli, on 11, is lucky as Philander puts down a simple catch on the leg side. Kohli went for the pull against Rabada but got a top edge which lobbed on the off-side but it was put down by Philander and the bowler was not at all impressed.

Rabada overpitches and Kohli this time slaps it through the covers for a four as India reach 31 for two in 21 overs.
14:31   Openers perish early, India in trouble


India 19-2 (13 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Pujara is all at sea at the moment as Philander beats him yet again with one that moves away and also bounces quite a bit.

A few balls later, Pujara is nearly done in by the incoming delivery as he opts to leave thinking the ball would move away but it comes in sharply and is lucky that it just missed the stumps.

Rabada bowls a quick delivery which swings in as Kohli is hit high on the pads. Three balls later, he takes a big stride forward and drives a full delivery through the covers for a four to get off the mark in some style.

An angry Rabada beats Kohli with the inswinging delivery which beats him and strikes him on the pads before he blocks the last ball.

Pujara is yet to get off the mark from 20 balls faced so far. He gets another unplayable delivery from Philander, bounce and movement and Pujara looks to defend but is beaten again.

The next ball is the same as Pujara is again lucky not to have got the edge.

The right-hander blocks the rest of the over as he is still to get off the mark after scoring 26 balls.

Rabada is getting so much bounce as he beats Kohli yet again with one that moves away.

Kohli then looks for a quick single at the other end but Pujara, who was run out in the last match turns down the call.

Kohli then punches it through the covers for a couple of runs before he defends the rest of the over.

The first hour has been dominated by South Africa.

India are struggling on 19 for two in 13 overs, after making a surprise decision to bat first despite picking five fast bowlers on a green wicket.
14:18  
India have rarely gone into a Test match without a spinner!

The last time that happened was against Australia in Perth in 2012.

In that match, India were thrashed by an innings and 37 runs in just two and half days which saw them go down 0-3 in the series.

Virat Kohli had top-scored with 75 in the fourth innings for India, who were captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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14:15   Vijay out for 8, India lose 2nd wicket


India 13-2 (9 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Vijay plays a loose shot, looking to drive Morkel through the off-side and is beaten.

He then defends the next ball and resists the temptation of going after the third ball before he sees off the rest of the over.

Seven runs came from the first over followed by four maiden overs in a row.

This time Philander beats Pujara all ends up with the outswinger who has a poke. Two balls later, he punches a full delivery straight but Kagiso Rabada comes up with a diving stop at mid-off to stop a certain boundary.

Philander hits Pujara on the pads with the incoming delivery but the leg before wicket appeal is turned down.

He has a chat with captain Faf du Plessis before they decide to take the DRS.

Pujara was half forward and struck just above the knee roll and the ball was going on to clip the top of the stumps which means the decision stays with the umpire's call.

After five maiden overs in a row, India finally manage to break the duck as Morkel bowls one way down the leg side which wicketkeeper de Kock is unable to stop and ends up giving away four byes.

Vijay then gets an edge but it falls short of the slips before he inside edges Morkel for a single.

Philander has another confident appeal for LBW turned down as Vijay is beaten by a full delivery before he takes a single.

Kagiso Rabada replaces Morkel and he strikes in his very first over. Vijay goes after a wide delivery and gets an edge to be caught behind for eight.

Both the openers are back in the hut as India are reduced to 13 for two in nine overs.
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13:50   Rahul out for a duck, India lose early wicket


India 7-1 (4 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Vernon Philander to bowl the second over. He starts with a beauty, getting the ball to come in and also some extra bounce as it goes right through KL Rahul, who was looking to defend it.

The next ball is wider as Rahul leaves it alone before he defends the next which is closer to the stumps with a good confident forward stride.

Rahul then taps the fourth ball on the leg side and offers no shot to the last two balls of the over.

Vijay looking to leave as much as possible. He trusts the bounce from the lanky Morkel leaving a couple of balls which sail over the stumps.

Morkel then gets one to swing in sharply as Vijay is hit on the thigh pads before it goes through to the keeper.

The last two balls move away as Vijay plays the tentative poke and is beaten.

Philander strikes with the first ball of his second over. It is the inswinger which causes the damage as the ball takes the inside edge of Rahul's bat and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock takes a good diving catch to his right.

Intelligent stuff from Philander, playing in his 50th Test. He troubled India with the outswingers in the first Test in Cape Town but here he is bowling a lot of balls coming in.

Rahul walks back for a duck as India lose an early wicket.

Cheteshwar Pujara off to a cautious start, leaving four of the five remaining deliveries of the over from Philander.
13:36   India elect to bat; Rahane and Bhuvi back


India 7-0 (1 ov) vs SA | Scorecard

The tall Morne Morkel to open the bowling for South Africa. The first ball is well wide as Vijay leaves it alone. The next ball bounces a bit extra but Morkel has overstepped before he leaves alone the next two deliveries.

Vijay then looks to drive a full delivery but gets a thick outside edge which flies past the fielder in the gully for a four.

However, he hits the next off the middle punching it down the ground past mid-off for two runs.

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13:34  
South Africa's hero of the last match Lungi Ngidi will have his parents cheering for him during the third Test.

Interestingly, his parents have checked into a hotel for the first time and it is also the first time they have come to Johannesburg.

"Look who arrived to watch the final test match, 1st time in a hotel, 1st time in joburg Parents showing support😍❤ #NgidiFamily," he tweeted along with a picture of his parents.
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13:06   India elect to bat; Rahane and Bhuvi back
India captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in the third and final Test in Johannesburg.

As expected Ajinkya Rahane is making a comeback to the Indian team in place of Rohit Sharma, who failed in the first two Tests.

Interestingly, both teams are going into the match without a specialist spinner in their line-ups.

India will field an all-pace attack as fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar is included in place of Ravichandran Ashwin.

So India are going in with five fast bowlers including Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar and the pace bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya.

South Africa have also gone on similar lines as pacer Andile Phehlukwayo replaces left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
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12:57   3rd Test: Team India aiming to avoid series whitewash
Welcome to the coverage of the third and final Test between South Africa and India in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Faced with the prospect of a humiliating 0-3 series whitewash, a desperate India would be aiming to bounce back to winning ways against an unrelenting South Africa.

The hosts have already sealed the series, after winning the first Test in Cape Town by 72 runs and the second Test in Centurion by 135 runs.

This was the first overseas Test series loss for India under Virat Kohli (discounting the 2014 loss in Australia as Mahendra Singh Dhoni was full-time captain back then). The tour has also also ended India's streak of nine consecutive series' wins since 2015.

The side, however, will not lose its no.1 Test ranking despite even if loses the third and final Test.

As if responding to the severe criticism of the selections so far on the tour, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set to return to the side, after mysteriously being left out of the previous Test.

Jasprit Bumrah, a surprise pick in both the two Tests, is expected to be left out.

While all five pacers bowled in the nets on Monday, a more certain hint emanated from the fact that four of them -- Bhuvneshwar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami -- batted in pairs and took first-strike on the freshly-rolled practice wickets.

India captain Virat Kohli is expected to make at least one more change though. Since Sunday, when the team regrouped after a three-day mid-tour break, Ajinkya Rahane has batted the longest in the nets.

He has had four long practice stints over the past two days and is assured of a starting spot after Rohit Sharma scored 78 runs in four innings at Cape Town and Centurion.

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