Tea on Day 1
South Africa seem to be recovering as they finished the post lunch session at 125 for 3 in 37 overs under overcast conditions. Jacques Kallis on 22* has found a decent looking AB de Villiers (14*) to carry forward the good work done by Hashim Amla early in the session. India had a quick break once play resumed after lunch when Alviro Petersen (21) drove along the wrong line to nick a juicy outswinger from Ishant Sharma to the keeper in the 14th over.
The match was halted for bad light after the 21st over and once it resumed, South Africa began a counter attack through Hashim Amla. Runs came in thick and fast and India was losing its initiative within no time. Amla raced away to a 19th Test fifty but a rush of blood saw him top edge a big pull shot off Sreesanth into the hands of Pujara at deep mid wicket. India could keep Amla's fireworks down to an 80-ball 59 which contained 9 fours and a six.
Lunch on Day 1
Persistent drizzle forced the two Umpires to declare an early lunch break on the opening day's play at Newlands in Cape Town with just the nine overs of play possible. The red new ball swung around quite a lot for Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth which forced a cautious start from the hosts. Zaheer Khan drew first blood when he trapped Graeme Smith on the backpad to defeat a straight drive with a late inswinger. Smith lasted only 12 deliveries and he fell in the 7th over with SA at 17 for 1. When rain interrupted the proceedings, Alviro Petersen had moved to 13 from 33 balls (with 2 fours) while Hashim Amla got 1 from 10 balls.
Toss and Teams
MS Dhoni has won a toss for a change and India have asked South Africa to bat first in the deciding Third Test at Newlands in Cape Town. The conditions are overcast and there was a bit of drizzle just after the toss but not threatening enough to prevent the action on Day 1. South Africa have gone in with the same XI that lost the Second Test at Durban. India have got back a fit Gautam Gambhir to replace Murali Vijay.