South Africa on firm footing for series win despite brilliant Rishabh Pant hundred, Virat Kohli cries foul

CAPE TOWN, January 13

India’s Rishabh Pant scored a superb unbeaten century but hosts South Africa made major strides towards winning the third and final Test, and the series, as they reached the close on 101/2 in pursuit of 212 at Newlands today.

South Africa still require another 111 for victory on a difficult batting wicket that saw India bowled out for 198 in their second innings, a score significantly boosted by the impressive Pant.

Home captain Dean Elgar (30) and Keegan Petersen (48 not out) put on 78 for the second wicket in a partnership that swung the match in the home side’s favour.

The curious case of Elgar

But Elgar was out with what proved to be the last ball of the day with a strangle down the leg-side as he edged seamer Jasprit Bumrah to wicketkeeper Pant.

India were earlier furious when Elgar, who made a match-winning unbeaten 96 in the second innings of the second Test, earned a reprieve from the ball-tracking technology when on 22.

The delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin was deemed to be bouncing over the top of the wicket, something the livid Indian players could be heard suggesting was impossible.

But one of those was when the hosts managed 211 for the loss of five wickets against India in 2007 to win the Test. They also successfully chased 240 in the fourth innings of the second Test of this series in Johannesburg.

“If you had come to us in the morning and asked if we would take 101 for two (chasing 212), we would have taken that and run,” South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi told reporters. “We are in a pretty good position. Another strong partnership and we are well in this game.”

Pant earlier put on a masterclass as he scored 100 not out from 139 balls in India’s second innings. — Reuters

Mic check!

The Indian players lost their cool after Dean Elgar got a reprieve due to a contentious DRS decision. Knowing that the stump microphone catches every bit of verbal stuff, the players made it a point to let everyone in South Africa know their feelings. “Whole country is against 11 players,” said one player. Some of the other comments heard were: “Broadcasters are here to make money boys” and “I hope the stump microphone is recording it”. R Ashwin, who was the bowler during the DRS incident, said, “You should find better ways to win Supersport.” Virat Kohli added to that, “Focus on your team as well and not just the opposition. Trying to catch people all the time.” KL Rahul said, “Whole country playing against XI guys.” At the end of the day’s play, India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said: “We saw it, you saw it. I’ll leave that for the match referee to have a look at it.”

Scoreboard

India 1st innings 223

South Africa 1st innings 210

India 2nd innings (overnight 57/2)

C Pujara c Petersen b Jansen 9

V Kohli c Markram b Ngidi 29

A Rahane c Elgar b Rabada 1

R Pant not out 100

R Ashwin c Jansen b Ngidi 7

S Thakur c Verreynne b Ngidi 5

U Yadav c Verreynne b Rabada 0

M Shami c van der Dussen b Jansen 0

J Bumrah c Bavuma b Jansen 2

Extras: (b 8, lb 9, nb 9, w 2) 28

Total: (All out, 67.3 overs) 198

FOW: 1-20, 2-24, 3-57, 4-58, 5-152, 6-162, 7-170, 8-180, 9-189

Bowling O M R W

Kagiso Rabada 17 5 53 3

Duanne Olivier 10 1 38 0

Marco Jansen 19.3 6 36 4

Lungi Ngidi 14 5 21 3

Keshav Maharaj 7 1 33 0

South Africa 2nd innings

A Markram c Rahul b Shami 16

D Elgar c Pant b Bumrah 30

K Petersen not out 48

Extras: (lb 6, nb 1) 7

Total: (2 wickets, 29.4 overs) 101

FOW: 1-23, 2-101

Bowling O M R W

Jasprit Bumrah 9.4 3 29 1

Mohammed Shami 7 0 22 1

Umesh Yadav 2 0 5 0

Shardul Thakur 5 1 17 0

Ravichandran Ashwin 6 1 22 0