The start of the fourth morning’s play of the second Test between India and South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg has been delayed due to incessant rain. The rain had stopped briefly and officials observed around 9 a.m. (12:30 p.m. IST) local time, but it soon returned the pitch and the surrounding square with cover again.
Chasing 240, South Africa were on 118/2 when the third day’s play came to an end. After losing the first match of the series at Centurion, the hosts are aiming to level the three-match series.
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Captain Dean Elgar took some blows to his body and twice needed the team physio’s attention, but he struggled to stay unbeaten on 46 while holding South Africa’s innings together. Rassie van der Dussen is on 11 with him.
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India started the third day with half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara and a century partnership for the third wicket. Kagiso Rabada then turned up the heat with quick bowling for both Rahane and Pujara before Rishabh Pant was dismissed for a duck.
Hanuma Vihari played a crucial innings and remained unbeaten on 40, while Shardul Thakur played an entertaining knock of 28 off 24 balls as India were bowled out for 266 in their second dig and ended with a lead of 239.
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South Africa got off to a strong start with openers Elgar and Aiden Markram adding 47 runs before Thakur was hit. Keegan Pietersen was also well settled, with four boundaries in his score of 28, but Ravichandran Ashwin shortened his innings by trapping him lbw.
While the pitch has proved difficult to bat on, South Africa are a bit ahead of the competition right now, with a well-established Elgar batting line-up and the likes of Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verne still to bat on.
Brief scores: South Africa 229 and 118/2 (Dean Elgar 46*; Ravichandran Ashwin 1/14) vs India 202 and 266
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