India vs South Africa Highlights, 2nd Test, Day 3: Elgar, vd Dussen take SA to 118/2 at Stumps; need 122 more to win

3 off it. SA are 106/2 after 34 overs, still need 134 runs to win

A save so good, even David de Gea would be proud.

A short ball from Bumrah, Rassie pulls it to backward square leg. It was racing along the turf and Shami does well to run in from fine leg and make a stop with his foot. Thakur cleans it up and only allows the batter to run 2.

SA are 103/2 after 33 overs, need 137 more runs to win

RVD picks up a single to backward point as SA touch 100.

SA are 100/2 after 32 overs, still need 140 runs to win

OUCH! Nasty bouncer from Bumrah smacks Elgar on the helmet. He took his eye off the ball and got hit right under the grill on the neck. The physio is out and after a small break, he is back to his guard

SA are 99/2 after 31 overs, still need 141 runs to win

As expected, Pant is extremely vocal behind the stumps following his verbal exchange with RVD in the second innings. Here's what the stump mic has caught so far

“Batting at number 4, playing only with the edges. ”

"Your wicket Ash"

“ After 4-5 balls, he's forgetting where his guard is. Batting at no.4, he has no idea"

SA are 99/2 after 30 overs, still need 141 runs to win

4 runs off it.

SA are 97/2 after 29 overs, still need 143 runs to win

1 often brings 2 and sometimes even more at the Bull Ring. There's a slight opening and as a result, skipper Rahul has wasted no time in bringing back his strike bowler back into the attack

Rassie van de Dussen is the new batter in. A wicket maiden for Ashwin

SA are 93/2 after 28 overs, need 147 more runs to win

OUT! That's as plumb as they come and Ashwin has finally picked up a wicket in this Test. Petersen looks to play good length ball off the backoot. It turns into him sharply and the umpire gives it out. Petersen discusses about taking a review with Elgar but they decided against it, rightfully as the ball was hitting the leg stump.

Ashwin becomes the first Indian spinner to bag a wicket at the Wanderers after Anil Kumble 

India must remember that patience is a virtue here. Why?
1) Because SA went from 124/1 to 177 all out in 2017

2) Wickets are falling in packs this match

SA are 93/1 after 27 overs, need 147 more runs to win

Ashwin has been very disciplined with his line and length but isn't receiving much assistance from the pitch. Hence, he hasn't particularly threatened the SA batters

SA are 90/1 after 26 overs, need 150 more runs to win

Concedes just 1 run from it

SA are 89/1 after 25 overs, need 151 more runs to win

2 runs from Ashwin's 2nd over. Ashwin hasn't looked threatening so far in this Test with the ball and India would hope for that to change

SA are 88/1 after 24 overs, need 152 more runs to win

FOUR! Short ball from Siraj and Keegan latches onto it by pulling the ball to the backward square leg fence for 4. 

SA batters are scoring at a rate of 3.8. They still have two days, 1 hour and 15 minutes, and 9 wickets in hand. You'd imagine warning bells would start to ring in the Indian camp very soon

SA are 86/1 after 23 overs, need 154 more runs to win

R Ashwin has been introduced into the attack. 

Did you know? Anil Kumble is the only Indian spinner to have picked up wickets at the Wanderers. Can Ashwin get that duck off his back today?

3 off the over. SA are 82/1 after 22 overs, need 158 more runs to win

Shami deserves a wicket today. He has come in and bowled the right line and lengths and has beaten Elgar's edge on numerous occasions. Unlucky to have not bagged a wicket after bowling 7 overs for just 20 runs.

SA are 79/1 after 21 overs, need 161 more runs to win

Mohammed Siraj has been introduced into the attack. Good to see him come on and bowl. He hasn't been himself ever since limping off the field late on Day 1 but even if he can give his captains a few overs here, it will help the side a great deal

SA are 77/1 after 20 overs, need 161 more runs to win

The first ball took off, the fourth ball beat Elgar, the fifth one he dugs out a yorker on off-stump and the final delivery makes him hop. Shami, from round the wicket, is testing the South Africa captain. Back-to-back maidens from India. 

Here they are. Despite there being bright sunshine on the ground, the grey clouds have found their way to the Wanderers and are hovering over and around the stadium. Remember, it rained very early in the morning today and although the forecast is promising for the remainder of the match, there is rain on the horizon.

Opens the face of the bat, Petersen almost gets beaten but gets wood to send the ball rolling towards the vacant third-man region. South Africa are getting the boundaries. Doesn't matter how they get them, but they are. 

Errs in line there, Shami… and Elgar does the rest. Half-volley on the pads and the South Africa captain does the rest. Brings the bat down is full flow and the ball hits it middle and races away to the boundary. Important runs these for South Africa, who need 174 more to win.

Shardul Thakur has been brilliant today, first with bat and now with the ball. Apart from the wicket that he picked up during that amazing over to Markram, the way he has tested both Petersen and Elgar has been remarkable. In between, there have been the odd seam-up delivery, the off-cutter which has forced the batters to remain on their toes.

South Africa 61/1, need 179 more to win.

No shortage of runs or wickets. 55 overs have been bowled on Day 3, 241 runs have been scored and 9 wickets have fallen, out of which 8 have been Indian and one South Africa. India would be hoping to add to that wickets tally by the time the day ends. 

This is a great way for KL Rahul to keep his bowlers fresh. He is nicely and frequently rotating his bowlers, not tiring any of them. It is likely that we might not see Mohammed Siraj in the fourth innings given his injury, which makes it all the more important for Shami, Bumrah and Thakur to deliver.

South Africa 60/1, need 180 more runs to win.

Shardul drifts into the Elgar's pads and the South Africa rolls his wrists nicely for a single towards third man. On Twitter, memes have been doing the rounds that Elgar is the king of play and misses but he has looked a lot more assured in this innings. 

FOUR! GORGEOUS! On the other end, Petersen has raced to 8 off 4 deliveries as he flicks the ball through deep mid-wicket for 4. Bumrah is not shying away from attacking the stumps and this is a small price he must keep paying. 

SA are 58/1 after 13 overs, need 182 more runs to win

HOW'S THAT? NOT-OUT! INDIA DO NOT REVIEW. What a sensational maiden from Thakur. This is stuff of dreams. He beat Elgar's edge throughout the over and on the final ball, he thought he had his man but the umpire didn't concur.

SA are 52/1 after 12 overs, need 188 more runs to win

FOUR! Lovely beginning from Keegan. Length on offer, takes a big stride forward and drives the ball through covers for 4.

SA are 52/1 after 11 overs, need 188 more runs to win

Keegan Petersen, who scored an impressive 62 in the first innings, joins his skipper

FOUR! Runs are coming easily and Markram continues to make merry. Back of a length and width on offer, Markram rocks onto the backfoot and drives it through point for 4. 

HOW'S THAT? NOT-OUT! NO REVIEW! The very next ball, there is a huge shout for LBW. The ball shapes back in sharply and strikes Aiden on the backpad. Umpire Marais gives it not-out. The impact was the issue but hawk eye shows the ball would have missed the stumps.

ANOTHER SHOUT FOR LBW! This time, he is struck on the front thigh pad and the umpire gives it not-out. The ball looked like missing leg.

OUT! HOWS' THAT AND THIS TIME, HE'S GONE! Markram walks and he is not going to review it. Another ball nipping back in sharply and strikes Markram on the pads. He's beaten for pace as well and this time, he is gone. The ball was crashing into the leg stump.

SA are 47/0 after 10 overs. He is gone fore 31

THAT'S A LOWEY! The third ball of the over stays low but Markram does well to get his bat down on time. The pitch continues to play tricks. 

SA are 42/0 after 9 overs, need 198 more runs to win

Four off Thakur' s first over.

SA are 38/0 after 8 overs, need 202 more runs to win

Shardul Thakur, star of the first innings with the ball, has been introduced

Welcome back for the final session of the day. Markram (24*) and Dean Elgar (10*) have gotten off to a strong start.

SA are 34/0 after 7 overs, need 206 more runs to win

Brilliant passage of play for the Proteas. While Elgar looked tentative, Markram played with extreme positivity, smashing five boundaries en route to 24* at Tea, India need to pick up wickets before the hosts make short work of this target

SA ARE 34/0 AFTER 7 OVERS, need 206 more runs to win

EDGED, DOESN'T CARRY AND SQUEEZES THROUGH SLIPS FOUR 4. Last ball over of the Bumrah finds Aiden's outside edge, doesn't carry and it squirts through the slips for 4. Doesn't happen often here. An oddity for sure.

FOUR! SHOTTT!! That is picture-perfect, one for the camera, straight out of the text. Call it whatever you like but this is sensational. Length ball with a hint of away movement. Markram latches onto it and creams it through cover for 4.

SA are 29/0 after 6 overs, need 211 more runs to win

EDGED AND FOUR! Bumrah goes away outside off and Elgar bites. However, the ball flies off the edge to third man for 4. Lucky but he'll take it. 

SA are 25/0 after 5 overs, need 215 more runs to win