JOHANNESBURG: South Africa squeezed into a first-innings lead of seven runs on the second day of the third and final Test against India at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.
On a pitch of increasingly unpredictable bounce and deviation, South Africa were bowled out for 194 in reply to India’s 187.
Hashim Amla top-scored for South Africa with 61, while Jasprit Bumrah took five for 54 for India, his first five-wicket haul in Tests.
The only significant support for Amla came from nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada, who made 30 and shared a third wicket partnership of 64 which held up the Indian bowlers until Rabada was caught at gully off Ishant Sharma six minutes before lunch.
Amla survived two reviews for leg before wicket, being saved by the ‘umpire’s call’ provision on both occasions, and took some painful blows, including one in the ribs and another on his hand.
India’s bowlers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took three for 34, never allowed the batsmen to settle, with the ball deviating disconcertingly off the pitch at times.
Amla adapted his technique, shuffling across his stumps to counter the movement the bowlers were getting on a pitch with cracks and indentations that made survival a challenge — and which gave credence to Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara’s assertion on Wednesday that India’s total of 187 was a good one. — AFP
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