Jadeja fifer bundles out South Africa for 121

Brief Scores: India 334 (Rahane 127, Ashwin 56, Abbott 5/40, Piedt 4/117) lead South Africa 121 (AB de Villiers 42, Jadeja 5/30, Ashwin 2/26) by 213 runs

South Africa took the second new ball in the morning in the hope of breaking the overnight partnership of Rahane and Ashwin. India’s overnight score of 231/7, however, slowly crept upwards with both the batsmen negotiating the Proteas’ bowlers well. South Africa's ploy of the second new ball almost worked when Ashwin edged a ball from Abbott to the slips. Proteas captain Hashim Amla, however, let it slip away from his hands – his third drop of the match.

Ajinkya Rahane slowly added 11 more runs to his overnight score of 89 to bring up the first century of the series. Rahane struck a cracking straight drive off Abbott to get to his fifth Test century and his first in India. With Ashwin occupying the crease at the other end, Rahane played some brilliant shots to send the crowd at Kotla into a standing ovation.

As the spinners came on, both batsmen took a liking to them to close in on a hundred-run partnership. But they fell two runs short of the mark, with Imran Tahir removing the centurion. Rahane’s lofted drive off Tahir’s flighted googly went straight to de Villiers at cover as the marvellous innings of 127 ended. But Ashwin compounded South Africa’s problems before lunch by bringing up his half-century.

India lost Ashwin shortly after lunch, with Abbott picking up his fourth wicket of the match with a short ball. Abbott finished off India with two more balls as he caught Ishant Sharma rooted in the crease.

South Africa had an indifferent start to their innings with Dean Elgar surviving two lbw shouts off Ishant Sharma. The Proteas, however, survived the initial scares to bring up their highest opening partnership of the series. But Elgar’s stay at the crease was cut short by Umesh Yadav who dismissed the opener for 17. Umesh’s full length delivery found a nick off Elagar’s bat to bring down South Africa’s first wicket with 36 runs on-board. South Africa went into the tea break with a creditable 38/1.

After tea, it was spin that knocked out the Proteas’ resistance with Jadeja removing Temba Bavuma for 22. The opener was clean bowled by Jadeja’s delivery which pitched outside off to come in with the arm. Jadeja removed Proteas’ captain Hashim Amla shortly after with Amla edging a delivery outside off stump into Saha’s hands. Jadeja’s giant-killing run continued as he sent Du Plessis packing for a duck. The South African's attempt to play the paddle-scoop went horribly wrong as the ball lobbed to Rahane at leg-slip for a simple catch.

Pacers Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma joined Jadeja in the demolition job as Duminy and Vilas were sent back with the stumps going cartwheeling. Ashwin, the leading wicket taker of the series with 24 wickets, brought up his 25th wicket by removing Kyle Abbott to pick up the seventh wicket. Jadeja compounded South Africa’s woes as he removed Piedt to pick up his fourth wicket of the match.

AB de Villiers, who was the silent man at the other end with Proteas’ wickets falling left, right and centre slowly, took South Africa past the hundred. However, with South Africa at 118/8, Ishant Sharma did an 'AB de Villiers' on AB de Villiers near the boundary. The Proteas' star stepped out and played a lofted shot off Jadeja, only for Ishant Sharma to take a theatrical but brilliant catch near the boundary. With it, Jadeja also picked up his fifth wicket of the match.

Within minutes, Tahir skied a ball from Ashwin to offer Virat Kohli a simple catch. However, the Indian captain made a mess of it to deny Ashwin his second wicket of the match. Tahir gave India another chance within minutes as another slog off Ashwin found substitute KL Rahul near the boundary to end South Africa’s innings at 121, giving India a 213-run first innings lead.

India, however, did not enforce the follow-on by deciding to go for their second innings. With the Proteas informing the umpires about their desire to use faster bowlers, umpires called off play for the second day with light not good enough to play.

India will now look to add more to the score on the third day to further the misery of the South Africans.