By BV Swagath
Just a little under 16 overs were possible in the final session which saw a predictable end due to bad light and rain. India using quite a lot of spin did exceedingly well to bowl nearly 85 overs on the third day. The Test match though hasn’t moved anywhere and at the close of day three, neither team is in any position of forcing a victory. Not even the first innings are done and dusted and if the weather stays like this, the match and the series are going to be drawn.
Ravindra Jadeja got JP Duminy lbw for 28 in the final decision with the left-hander going back to a full ball and getting struck on the pad in front of leg by a straighter one. Kallis remained unbeaten on 78 from 224 balls with all his focus on scoring a century in his last Test match. He has got Dale Steyn at the other end who had come out as the night watchman. SA are 299 for 5 at Stumps on Day 3 with still 35 runs to score before getting into the first innings lead.
Update at Tea on Day 3: India might have got just the one wicket in the post lunch session but that was more than enough for them to keep the South Africans quiet. A beautiful partnership between Kallis and de Villiers was broken just few minutes before Tea by Ravindra Jadeja.
South Africa were threatening to take the game forward in their favour before Jadeja got one to turn and bounce from middle to force AB de Villiers (74 from 117 balls with 9 fours) to nick him to slip. Jadeja ended what was a crucial stand of 127 runs which not only rescued the South Africans but had also put them in charge of the game.
But with de Villiers departing, SA through Jacques Kallis went into the defensive mode. At Tea, SA are 267 for 4 with Kallis on 61* with Duminy on 13*. India have not taken the new ball as Jadeja is getting good turn and the pacers getting some reverse swing with the old ball.
Update at Lunch on Day 3: After yesterday’s poor session with the ball, India fought back to keep the game in the balance, reducing SA to 113 for 3. However, India’s hunt for further inroads were stopped by the excellent partnership between Jacques Kallis (26*) and AB de Villiers (39*) which has taken the Proteas to 181 for 3 at Lunch on Day 3.
India had an early success thanks to a great backward running catch from Shikhar Dhawan to help Ravindra Jadeja to dismiss Graeme Smith for 47. Five overs later, Hashim Amla was bowled through the gate by a Mohammed Shami inswinger for 3. The very next ball, Jadeja struck with one that turned and bounced to have the well set Alviro Petersen (62) caught low at slip.
