Advantage south Africa

Centurion: Chasing 287 runs for a series-equalising win, India faltered from the start in their second innings chase and lost three quick wickets to close the penultimate day of their second cricket Test against South Africa at 35 for three here on Tuesday.

It was a terrible day for Kohli, who was earlier in the day fined 25 percent of his match fee for showing dissent against the umpires on the third day of the match. India lost openers Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul and first inning centurion Virat Kohli to the South African pace battery before they could even settle down.

Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and Parthiv Patel (5) were at the crease when umpires called end of play for the day. For South Africa, Lungisani Ngidi scalped two wickets while Kagiso Rabada took one wicket. Earlier in the day, South Africa resumed their second innings on 90/2 and went on to make 258, largely thanks to AB de Villiers (80) and captain Faf du Plessis (48).

India took wickets at regular intervals but couldn't really run through the Proteas innings. Mohammed Shami, who had looked ineffective until now, got some of his rhythm back and accounted for four wickets at the expense of 49 runs, including the prized wicket of de Villiers.

Jasprit Bumrah, who had taken the first two South African wickets yesterday, took one more on Tuesday to return figures of 3/70. Ishant Sharma also bowled well in patches and returned 2/40. India started their chase badly as Vijay and Rahul fell cheaply to Kagiso Rabada and Ngidi respectively early on. They cut a sorry figure on a pitch doing all kinds of tricks.

The enormity of the task India now have on their hands could be gauged from the fact that the highest score ever to be chased at Centurion is 251 and it was the English team that did it back in 2000.