India vs South Africa, 3rd Test: Day 2 - As it happened...

Indian spinners bowled South Africa out for 79 - the lowest Test total by a team against India, which also gave them a 136-run lead.

New Delhi: Indian spinners put the hosts on top on Day 2 of the third Test match against South Africa, as the visitors need 278 runs to win with just 8 wickets remaining.

26 November 2015

16:53 IST

Over 14 | Score 32/2 (Elgar 10*, Amla 3*)

Stumps! Indian spinners continued their good run as first Ashwin got rid of van Zyl in the 8th over of the innings after he hit one straight to Rohit Sharma at covers and Mishra dismissed Tahir who was once again sent as the nightwatchman. South Africa still trail by 278 runs and they now need a miracle to keep their incredible overseas record intact.

Imran Tahir lbw b Mishra 8 (7b)

S van Zyl c RG Sharma b Ashwin 5 (29b)

16:49 IST

Over 6 | Score 12/0 (van Zyl 4*, Elgar 6*)

Good job so far by the South African openers, as they have managed to tackle Indian spinners, on what has become a bastman's graveyard. Ishant and Ashwin started the innings and it's about time that Kohli brings Jadeja into the attack. 

15:45 IST

Over 46.3 | Score 173/10 (Sharma 1*)

All out for 173!

Morkel continued his good run and he scalped the wicket of Rohit Sharma, who gave an easy catch to Elgar at mid-on. On the other hand, Mishra was bowled by Tahir, who completed a five-wicket haul.

A Mishra b Imran Tahir 14 (18b)

RG Sharma c Elgar b Morkel 23 (39b)

14:49 IST

Over 35 | Score 128/6 (Sharma 6*, Jadeja 5*)

Tahir picked another wicket, of Saha who was dismissed in a bizarre fashion. Saha was looking to play a paddle sweep but the ball got an edge which hit Vilas's shoes, went in the air and was caught by Amla. Very unfortunate, but Saha has to go. Jadeja was the new man in and he hit the first ball he faced from Jadeja, a full-toss for a boundary through covers.

WP Saha c Amla b Imran Tahir 7 (13b)

14:19 IST

Over 31 | Score 108/5 (Sharma 0*, Saha 0*)

India lost two more key wickets of skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. While Kohli put his dancing shoes on against Tahir and was caught at long-off, Rahane was caught at short third man by Duminy. It was a session dominated by South Africa considering the late flurry of wickets. India now lead by 244 runs with 5 wickets remaining. Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha are two new batsmen at the crease who are yet to open their accounts.

ZAM Rahane c Duminy b Imran Tahir 9 (13b)

V Kohli c du Plessis b Imran Tahir 16 (30b)

14:02 IST

Over 27 | Score 97/3 (Kohli 14*, Rahane 0*)

Dhawan was looking settled to play a big knock before he was unsettled by Tahir. Dhawan was looking to play a reverse-sweep off Tahir, got some part of his bat on it and was caught by Vilas. Jinkya Rahane is the next man in to join Kohli.

S Dhawan c Vilas b Imran Tahir 39 (78b)

13:48 IST

Over 21 | Score 80/2 (Dhawan 27*, Kohli 10)

Pujara was slowing getting into the rhythm as he scored two boundaries each off Kagiso Rabada and JP Duminy. But in Duminy's first over, after hitting him for two boundaries, Pujara was bamboozled by one that straightened after pitching. Pujara fails to convert another start into a big score. Kohli is the new man in and he would be itching to hit a big score here. Meanwhile, Dhawan is looking comfortable at the crease and a good knock here would do wonders to his confidence. India have accelerated the scoring rate and have scored 45 runs in the last five overs.

CA Pujara b Duminy 31 (45b)

13:04 IST

Over 16 | Score 35/1 (Dhawan 12*, Pujara 14*)

Dhawan was dropped at 12 by Elgar off Harmer's bowling. South Africa need to hold onto those chances since only wickets will get them back into the game. India might be slow in their approach to scoring runs, but as time passes by, they are consolidating on their lead.

12:45 IST

Over 11 | Score 27/1 (Dhawan 11*, Pujara 10*)

Even though Morkel has picked a wicket, on a track where Indian spinners looked unplayable , Amla too must attack with spin from both the ends. Elgar is someone who has bowled extremely well for South Africa, however, he has been underused. Tahir too, will have to bowl his heart out after having an ordinary series so far.

12:31 IST

Over 7 | Score 15/1 (Dhawan 4*, Pujara 5*)

South Africa struck immediately after lunch as Vijay was once again dismissed by Morne Morkel. Vijay was looking to turn the ball towards third man, the ball bounced more and took an edge which was well caught by Amla at slips. Pujara is the next man in. India have a healthy lead but they need not be complacent here.

M Vijay c Amla b Morkel 5 (15b)

12:23 IST

Over 4 | Score 7/0 (Vijay 5*, Dhawan 2*)

LUNCH: India can now have a sumptuous lunch as they have a huge lead of 143 runs with ten wickets remaining. There is still a lot for the spinners in the wicket and the likes of Simon Harmer, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy should be ready to bowl long spells today if the Saffers plan to make a comeback in the match.

11:08 IST

When India were bowled out for 215, it looked like a paltry total. But now that South Africa have been bowled out for 79, conceding India a formidable 136-run lead, Indian batsmen should be very happy with what they posted in the first innings! For the records, South Africa's 79, is the lowest total by a team against India in Test cricket.

11:05 IST

Over 33.1 | Score 79/10 (Rabada 6*)

While Ashwin and Jadeja were wreaking havoc, Amit Mishra picked his first wicket of the match when he trapped Duminy in front of the wicket. Ashwin dismissed Morne Morkel to claim another five-wicket haul.

M Morkel c & b Ashwin 1 (2b)

JP Duminy lbw b Mishra 35 (65b)

11:05 IST

Over 30 | Score 70/8 (Duminy 33*, Rabada 0*)

Simon Harmer was the next to be dismissed off an awkward delivery, it was a carrom ball from Ashwin which pitched outside the leg-stump, but spin into the batsman and hit his pads before hitting the stumps. Jadeja and Ashwin have picked four wickets apiece and it would be tremendous if both of them can finish with five-wicket hauls each.

SR Harmer b Ashwin 13 (10b)

10:31 IST

Over 26 | Score 65/7 (Duminy 29*, Harmer 12*)

Even though Duminy is playing with a positive intent, wickets are tumbling from the other end. Jadeja picked another wicket, of Vilas who got an unplayable delivery which pitched, turned very sharply and hit the stumps. Simon Harmer is the new man in and he needs to contribute with the bat as well after a good show with the ball. He has already hit two boundaries.

DJ Vilas b Jadeja 1 (15b)

10:11 IST

Over 20 | Score 36/6 (Duminy 14*, Vilas 0*)

India missed out on another opportunity, again off Ashwin's bowling, when Wriddhiman Saha missed out on a stumping chance. Vilas came down the wicket even before the ball was bowled, Ashwin saw him coming and bowled it down the leg side, Saha failed to collect it cleanly. Three chances missed in Ashwin's last two overs.

10:02 IST

Over 17 | Score 35/6 (Duminy 13*)

Just when it was looking that du Plessis and Duminy are on their way to stitch a good partnership, du Plessis threw his wicket away with a poor show. Jadeja bowled an arm ball, Faf could have defended it but he played an awkward looking shot where he was looking to thwack the ball past mid-off, missed it completely and he is the next one to perish. Earlier, Duminy launched Jadeja for a six over midwicket and it remains to be seen what would be his approach since South African batsmen are looking in huge hurry.

F du Plessis b Jadeja 10 (20b)

09:45 IST

Over 13 | Score 17/5 (du Plessis 4*, Duminy 1*)

Ashwin got another wicket in his second over of the day, a big one of Amla as he tried to sweep the ball, got some glove to it and was easily caught by Rahane. Faf du Plessis was the new man in.

It was time for Jadeja to weave his magic as he bowled a ball to AB which had too much bounce, de Villiers was surprised and he ended up hitting it back to Jadeja for a sitter! South Africa are wobbling here. Duminy is the next man in.

HM Amla c Rahane b Ashwin 1 (10b)

AB de Villiers c & b Jadeja 0 (6b)

09:36 IST

Over 10 | Score 11/3 (Amla 0*, de Villiers 0*)

Ashwin began the proceedings for India and took just five balls to get the first breakthrough of the day. The ball was pitched way outside the off-stump, Elgar tried to cut it but got a bottom edge which went on to hit the stumps. AB de Villiers is the new man in. This is going to be a massive partnership for both the team. Both of them have the experience and South Africa need them to stitch a formidable stand for the fourth wicket.

D Elgar b Ashwin 7 (35b)