India vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1, Highlights: Bhuvneshwar strikes after IND batsmen fail
India were bundled out for 187 on Day 1 of the third and final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. In reply, the hosts were 6/1 at stumps, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting the wicket of Aiden Markram. Get highlights of IND vs SA here.
South Africa rode on a disciplined bowling effort to skittle out India for a paltry 187 in their first innings on the opening day of the third and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Kagiso Rabada took three wickets while Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Andile Phehlukwayo took two apiece. In reply, the hosts were 6/1 at stumps, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting rid of Aiden Markram. Get highlights of IND vs SA here. (SCORECARD)
21:10 hrs IST: That’s it. Thank you for joining us. Until next time, it’s goodbye. Cheers!
21:02 hrs IST: And that’s stumps. Magnificent day for South Africa. Another solid performance from their bowlers. On the other hand, India continue to flounder. And again, it’s on the bowlers to do the job.
20:51 hrs IST: India added 73 runs in the last session after they were 114/4 at tea with Pujara still holding one end with a patient 145-ball 27. Pujara should have anchored India’s innings but he departed on 50, leaving the team in all sorts of trouble.
20:45 hrs IST: OUT! Just what India would’ve needed at this stage. Bhuvi gets rid of Markram. Can the visitors get 1-2 more wickets?
20:40 hrs IST: Excellent start from Bhuvi, no margin for error. South Africa are 3/0.
20:35 hrs IST: Welcome back! We’ll have around six overs more today.
20:25 hrs IST: WICKET! And that’s it. India have been bundled out for 187. Another magnificent performance from South Africa. Playing the extra seamer helped. Phehlukwayo took the crucial wickets of Pujara and Pandya. We’ll be back for South Africa’s first innings in a short while.
20:20 hrs IST: FOUR! Length delivery from Ngidi and Bhuvi creams it over the bowler’s head. Moves to 29.
20:16 hrs IST: AB de Villiers is off the field with a finger injury. No update on whether he’ll bat in the first innings. We’ll keep you posted.
20:10 hrs IST: FOUR! Length ball from Philander, Bhuvi makes room and smacks it past the non-striker. Moves into 20s.
20:06 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Suresh Raina continued his imperious form with a third successive half century as Uttar Pradesh kept their final hopes alive with a resounding seven- wicket win over Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. Read full report here
20:00 hrs IST: OUT! Rabada gets his man. Ishant Sharma departs for a duck. Faf du Plessis takes a stupendous catch at first slip.
19:53 hrs IST: South Africa will look to score anything around 350 in their first innings. Should be more than enough considering how India have batted throughout the series.
19:46 hrs IST: Another disappointing performance from India. Continues to be a tough tour for them. South Africa pacers have been on the money right from the word go.
19:39 hrs IST: OUT! Full delivery from Philander, Shami looks to hit it over mid-off but mistimes and Rabada does the rest. India are 163/8.
19:33 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna has entered the semi-finals of the Australian Open mixed doubles event. Read full report here
19:27 hrs IST: India’s woeful run continues!
19:20 hrs IST: OUT! This is a poor show from the Indian batsmen. Pandya goes. Another rash shot from him. Looks to pull but mistimes and de Kock takes a good running catch. Second wicket for Phehlukwayo.
19:14 hrs IST: WICKET! Back of a length delivery from Morkel, Parthiv looks to cut but instead edges it straight to the wicket-keeper de Kock. Second scalp for the South Africa. India in all sorts of trouble now. Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes to the crease.
19:08 hrs IST: OUT! And for the nth time in this series, India have lost a wicket at a crucial interval, and that too of someone who looked set to get a big one. Pujara departs for fifty. First scalp for Andile Phehlukwayo. Hardik Pandya comes to the crease.
19:00 hrs IST: Two runs and that’s fifty for Pujara, 17th in Tests. An extremely patient innings from the India No. 3. Swells team total as well as confidence. Needs to hang in till the end.
18:53 hrs IST: FOUR! Short and wide from Ngidi and Pujara cuts it through point for his seventh boundary.
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18:45 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Ngidi, Pujara gets into position early and punishes it through extra cover. Moves to 38. India are 129/4
18:39 hrs IST: India need to cross at least 250 in the first innings to justify their decision to bat on a green pitch that was juiced up by overnight rain. Anything less than that and South Africa know they have done their job.
18:36 hrs IST: Rabada bowls the first over and gives away three runs. India are 117/4. Ngidi now.
18:32 hrs IST: Welcome back everybody! The third session will be crucial. In a battle of attrition by the Indian batsmen, the Pujara-Parthiv stand might decide how the day will be remembered.
18:11 hrs IST: And that’s tea. A session that started in India’s favour but the hosts clawed back with quick wickets of Kohli and Rahane. Pujara is still at the crease and accompanying him is Parthiv. With Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar still to come, India should stay optimistic and hope for a competitive. Join us in 20 minutes for the final session.
18:04 hrs IST: WICKET! And that’s a big blow for India. Ajinkya Rahane departs. Morne Morkel gets his first wicket. The visitors in some trouble now. Parthiv Patel comes to the crease.
17:59 hrs IST: FOUR! Overpitched from Morkel and Rahane times it well past the fielder at mid-on for his first boundary of the day. India are 113/3
17:53 hrs IST: Pujara has scored 22 runs off 22.4 overs. Incredible patience! Needs to make it count.
17:47 hrs IST: Lucky escape for Rahane. Gets out off a no ball. The Indian batsmen have been very lucky today. Hope Rahane makes the most of this opportunity.
17:38 hrs IST: Meanwhile, defending champion Roger Federer argued with an umpire but mostly let his racket do the talking as he beat Tomas Berdych for the ninth time running to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. Read full report here
17:34 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - South Africa’s 84 in 25.1 overs against India in 2006-07 is the fourth lowest total at New Wanderers.
17:30 hrs IST: South Africa bowlers have delivered 21 maidens out of 44 overs (so far). Great stuff!
17:25 hrs IST: This innings was nowhere close to Kohli’s best but taking into consideration the situation when he came to bat, this fifty has got India back on track after they lost both openers very early.
17:21 hrs IST: Ajinkya Rahane walks out to bat for the first time in the series. He didn’t have a good time during the home Tests against Sri Lanka and was dropped for the first two Tests here. Can he score a hundred today?
17:19 hrs IST: WICKET! And Ngidi gets Kohli for the second consecutive time. Full delivery from the South African, the India No.4 looks to drive but edges it straight to AB de Villiers at third slip.
17:14 hrs IST: FOUR! And that’s fifty for Virat Kohli, 16th in Tests. What a knock it has been from the India captain! Looks in splendid touch. Touch short from Rabada and it’s enough for Kohli to pull it backward square leg.
17:09 hrs IST: India have scored at a rate of almost four in this session. The important thing to see off the new ball and that has been done. Morkel needs to step up here. He hasn’t been that effective so far.
17:02 hrs IST: This is turning out to be a good period of play for India. Quick runs and both batsmen solid in defence. They would be happy to go into tea at 150/2.
16:56 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Pakistan will be facing either India or Bangladesh in the semi-final of the ongoing ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 in New Zealand, after they defeated South Africa on Wednesday. Read full story here
16:52 hrs IST: Pujara has moved into 20s and has started to look a lot more assured. His partnership with Kohli has gone past the 70-run mark.
16:47 hrs IST: FOUR! Half-volley from Rabada and Kohli drives it through cover. Moves to 47. Another big score on the cards from India captain! India are 83/2
16:42 hrs IST: FOUR! Too full from Morkel and Kohli punches it straight past the bowler. Nearing yet another fifty. Superb!
16:39 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Philander, Pujara gets forward and drives it past the non-striker. Moves to 19. India are 69/2
16:35 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - South Africa won their last Test at the venue against Sri Lanka in January 2017, but have not won back to back games here since 2002-2003.
16:29 hrs IST: South Africa’s misses chances in the first session -
Philander spilled the opportunity to grab the big wicket of Kohli when the latter top-edged a pull off Rabada to mid-off, but the South African failed to hang on to what looked a simple chance.
Lungi Ngidi had, three balls earlier, struck the back leg of Pujara with a delivery that cut in. Umpire Ian Gould turned down the appeal and South Africa did not review the decision.
16:22 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries for Pujara. He has started to cut loose. Time for South Africa bowlers to keep it more tight. Wickets will come, eventually. India are 63/2
16:18 hrs IST: FOUR! Too full from Morkel and Kohli times it well through extra cover. As good as it gets!
16:14 hrs IST: Single for Pujara and he moves to six (off 71 balls). This is an ideal opportunity for India to get a good first innings score. Kohli is the main man once again.
16:10 hrs IST: Welcome back! Pujara to take strike. Philander to resume the proceedings.
15:30 hrs IST: And that’s lunch. A session that belonged to the hosts. Philander started off in an excellent fashion and Rabada continued the good work by getting Vijay. Pujara and Kohli have been cautious (a bit patchy too). India would hope they both go on to score a big one. Join us in 40 minutes for the next session!
15:21 hrs IST: Meanwhile, West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has achieved a unique T20 feat in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL). Read full story here
15:16 hrs IST: This is turning out to a decent phase for India. Both Kohli and Pujara should look to play a long innings here.
15:10 hrs IST: 46 consecutive balls without a run for Pujara. This is the longest scoreless streak by an India top order batsman in a Test innings in the last two decades. Previous: 45 balls, Sachin Tendulkar vs Zimbabwe, Delhi, 2002 - Mazher Arshad
15:06 hrs IST: First runs of the day for Pujara after 53 balls. Cheers! And Rahane celebrates it from the dressing room. Even the India No. 3 laughs! Full delivery from Ngidi and Pujara works it deep backward square leg for a single.
15:01 hrs IST: FOUR! Full and wide from Rabada (again), Kohli leans forward and drives it through deep extra cover. Moves to 15
14:57 hrs IST: A 50-ball 0 from Pujara. The main aim is to take the shine of the new ball, but will he able to capitalise later? On current form, it looks tough.
14:51 hrs IST: Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has advised current skipper and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to consult this India legend to get over his fitness and form issues Read full story here
14:46 hrs IST: 43 balls and Pujara is yet to get off the mark. India are 20/2 after 17 overs. Lungi Ngidi, who took a six-wicket haul in his debut game, comes into the attack.
14:40 hrs IST: Worrying Sign!
14:36 hrs IST: Pujara narrowly misses an edge from a dangerously moving Philander delivery. He battles on at the crease for the moment.
14:27 hrs IST: Five maidens from Philander (out of his first six overs). This is simply brilliant! Faf du Plessis would be happy to loss the toss. India are 19/2, time for drinks.
14:21 hrs IST: FOUR! Typical Kohli, can’t get any better! Full and wide from Rabada and the India captain caresses it through cover for his first boundary of the day.
14:17 hrs IST: Pujara seems to be struggling, specifically against Philander. Need to keep his cool. A 100-ball 20 here will put his team in good stead.
14:12 hrs IST: OUT! This is poor from Vijay. On another day, he would have left that alone. Full and swinging from Rabada, the India opener looks to drive it through cover but edges it back to Quinton de Kock. No feet movement. Virat Kohli comes to the crease.
14:09 hrs IST: Here comes the first change in bowling - Kagiso Rabada. He would’ve loved to bowl with the new ball on this track but the 22-year-old is capable enough to cause damage at any stage of the game.
14:04 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag has once again trained his guns on Virat Kohli, saying currently there is no one in the team who can stand up to the India skipper and point out his mistakes on the field. Read full story here
14:00 hrs IST: South Africa will look to complete a historic clean-sweep at a ground dubbed ‘The Bullring’ and on a wicket that’s bound to help their seamers throughout the five days.
13:56 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - Cheteshwar Pujara hit 153 in India’s second innings the last time they played at this venue, the highest score by an India here. Can he repeat his heroics today?
13:52 hrs IST: This is excellent stuff from South Africa. Four maidens in a row. India are 7/1, Vijay 6*, Pujara 0*
13:45 hrs IST: OUT! Just the kind of start India would’ve wanted. KL Rahul’s woeful run continues. Vernon Philander has struck early, once again. Cheteshwar Pujara comes to the crease.
STAT ATTACK - South Africa, who are leading 2-0 in the series, have won two, lost two and drawn one in last five Tests played at the venue.
13:39 hrs IST: And Philander continues to make the ball talk. Get a feeling something is going to happen here. India are 7/0. Morkel to continue.
13:35 hrs IST: Seven runs off the first over. Vijay looks a bit more positive as compared to the last game. But his real challenge will be against Vernon Philander, who’ll share the new ball with Morkel.
13:31 hrs IST: Straightaway some movement for Morne Morkel. The ‘Art of Leaving’ will hold the key to India’s chances here.
13:28 hrs IST: Time for live action. Murali Vijay and KL Rahul make their way out in the middle and so do the South Africa players. Promises to be an exciting contest. Can Virat Kohli’s men finish the series with a win?
13:19 hrs IST: Our correspondent from Johannesburg tells us that there was heavy overnight rain and so the pitch could be fairly juiced up.
13:12 hrs IST: Whenever we play four seamers, the captain gets banned because of slow over-rate: MS Dhoni
13:07 hrs IST: So two changes for the visitors. Ajinkya Rahane replaces Rohit Sharma while Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes in for R Ashwin. For South Africa, Andile Phehlukwayo is in for Keshav Maharaj.
13:05 hrs IST: Here are the playing XI of both teams -
India: Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo
13:01 hrs IST: India have won the toss and have opted to bat.
12:52 PM IST: “There is a very thick covering of grass and the surface is quite hard as well. There are a few cracks as well. As the game goes on, if the sun comes down, the cracks could widen. There could be two thoughts on this - either bat first and expect the surface to quicken up later or take the gamble on such a surface and insert the opposition in.” - Shaun Pollock (on the pitch).
12:44 PM IST: The all-important toss in a short while. Will India go on with four genuine seamers today? And if this happens, will Hardik Pandya keep his place?
12:25 PM IST: The Proteas have never beaten India in a Test at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. South Africa won their last Test at this venue against Sri Lanka in January 2017, but have not won back to back games there since 2002-2003
12:05 PM IST: South Africa have won consecutive Tests against India for the first time since 2006-07, they’ve not won three in a row against them since 2000-2001.
The Proteas can complete a first clean-sweep of a three-Test series against India, having already secured wins in Cape Town and Centurion earlier this month.
A 3-0 series victory would not see South Africa take over from India at the top of the International Cricket Council’s rankings, but would move them to within decimal points of doing so. With a four-Test series to come against Australia in March, top spot would be tantalisingly close.
“I don’t think we’ll make changes for the third Test just for the sake of giving opportunities. We want to keep our foot on the gas and apply as much pressure as possible (on India),” Faf Du Plessis, the South African skipper, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t happen a lot that you get the chance to beat a team 3-0 and I would favour dominating India and being ruthless.
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