South Africa two down in chase of 310

12 wickets fell on the first day of the third Test; on the second day 20 more fell. That is the most number of wickets to fall in a day in Tests in India equalling the 20 wickets that fell on the third day of the India- Australia Test in November 2004 at the Wankhede stadium.

In the morning session, India folded up the South African innings before the lunch break. The Proteas were 12/5 at one stage, with Amla, de Villiers and Elgar going back in quick succession. Apart from JP Duminy, who top-scored with 35, all other Proteas batsmen were send back cheaply by the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja. At the end of South African innings, Ashwin had picked up his fourteenth five-wicket haul and Jadeja added four more wickets to his brilliant comeback. South Africa’s total of 79 in the first innings is the lowest Test total by a team against India in the longest format of the game.

Tahir continued his destruction after tea to remove Saha. Harmer also struck from the other end to remove Jadeja and send India to a position of 128 for 7. Rohit Sharma stuck at one end and tried to rescue the Indian innings through a couple of lusty blows. Morkel, however, joined Tahir to soon remove Ashwin and Sharma to increase India’s struggle. Tahir completed his fifer with Mishra’s wicket and to finish off Indian innings for 173.