India two wickets away from 3-0 series clean sweep as SA trail by 203 runs

India closed in on a 3-0 whitewash of South Africa by reducing the visitors to 132 for eight in their second innings at stumps on day three of the third and final Test in Ranchi on Monday (October 21).

Theunis de Bruyn (30) and Anrich Nortje (5) will resume South Africa’s second innings on Tuesday (October 22).

They are still trailing by 203 runs. South Africa today lost 16 wickets after resuming the day at nine for two in their first innings.

India had made 497 for nine declared in their first innings after electing to bat.

In the morning session, Indian bowlers left South Africa rattling on a wet day three as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Zubayr Hamza after his half-century, sweeping the visitors 162-all out off 56.2 overs, trailing by 335 runs in the first innings.

After the play was called off due to bad weather on day two, the Proteas started their innings with skipper Faf du Plessis and Zubayr Hamza batting at 9 for two, trailing India by 368 runs.

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However, the skipper didn’t last long on the crease after Umesh Yadav took his wicket in the first over with a beautiful outswinger, injured Aiden Markram’s replacement Hamza showed fine application of skill (62 off 79) alongside Temba Bavuma (32) to give the Proteas some ray of hope.

Hamza, who struck 10 boundaries, hit seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for a six over mid-on to bring up his maiden fifty.

Hamza showed fine application and collected boundaries at regular intervals tackling both pace and spin well while Bavuma gave him solid support in their 91-run stand for the fourth wicket.

The duo put up a much-needed fight for South Africa before Jadeja provided the breakthrough by dismissing Hamza for 62 with a straighter one that crashed through the gate.

Then came “the big moment” for debutant Shahbaz Nadeem who had Bavuma stumped for his first wicket in international cricket. He foxed Bavuma with his flight as the batsman stepped out of the crease, leaving Wriddhiman Saha to do the rest.

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Soon after lunch the Proteas lost two more wickets of Dane Piedt (4) and Kagiso Rabada (0) to Shami’s lbw and Umesh Yadav’s run out respectively.

Dane Piedt’s wicket was Shami’s 50th in home Tests. he is the eighth Indian fast bowler to do so.

Shami’s average of 23.18 and strike rate of 45.6 is the best among the eight seamers.

Later, George Linde was caught out by Rohit Sharma at 37 off 81 balls and Shahbaz Nadeem closed the South African innings with Anrich Nortje lbw at 4 runs off 55 balls.

Earlier, India had an eventful first over as Yadav produced an unplayable delivery that swung late to unsettle the off-stump of du Plessis, who left the crease shaking his head.

A few balls stayed really low while Shami was extracting fine bounce from the Pavillion end.
Yadav looked ominous and was unlucky a couple of times when Hamza edged it just short of Virat Kohli at first slip.

Hamza soon found himself at ease displaying some beautiful drives to race to his 50 off 56 balls.

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The scoreboard: 

India 1st Innings: 497/9 declared.

South Africa 1st Innings: (Overnight 9 for 2 in 5 overs)

Dean Elgar (c) Saha (b) Shami – 0

Quinton de Kock (c) Saha (b) Umesh – 4

Zubayr Hamza (b) Jadeja – 62

Faf du Plessis (b) Umesh – 1

Temba Bavuma (st) Saha (b) Nadeem – 32

Heinrich Klaasen (b) Jadeja – 6

George Linde (c) Rohit (b) Umesh – 37

Dane Piedt (lbw) (b) Shami – 4

Kagiso Rabada (run out) Umesh – 0

Anrich Nortje (lbw) (b) Nadeem – 4

Extras: (B-8 LB-3 NB-1) 12

Total: 162-all out (56.2 overs)

Fall of Wickets: 4/1 8/2 16/3 107/4 107/5 119/6 129/7 130/8 162/9 162/10

Bowling: Mohammed Shami 10-4-22-2, Umesh Yadav 9-1-40-3, Shahbaz Nadeem 11.2-4-22-2, Ravindra Jadeja 14-3-19-2, Ravichandran Ashwin 12-1-48-0.

South Africa 2nd Innings:

Dean Elgar (retired hurt) – 16

Quinton de Kock (b) Umesh – 5

Zubayr Hamza (b) Shami – 0

Faf du Plessis (lbw) (b) Shami – 4

Temba Bavuma (c) Saha (b) Shami – 0

Heinrich Klaasen (lbw) (b) Yadav – 5

George Linde (run out) – 27

Dane Piedt (b) Jadeja – 23

Theunis de Bruyn (batting) – 30

Kagiso Rabada (c) Jadeja (b) Ashwin – 12

Anrich Nortje (batting) – 5

Extras: (B-5) – 5

Total: (For 8 wickets in 46 overs) – 132

Fall of Wickets: 1-5 2-10, 3-18, 4-22, 5-36, 6-67, 7-98, 8-121

Bowling: Mohammed Shami 9-5-10-3, Umesh Yadav 9-1-35-2, Ravindra Jadeja 13-5-36-1, Shahbaz Nadeem 5-0-18-0, R Ashwin 10-3-28-1.

(With inputs from agencies)