Veteran opener Dean Elgar missed his double century but South Africa managed to take a 147-run lead at Lunch on Day 3 of an opening Test match. Dean Elgar and Marco Jansen shared a 111-run stand for the fifth wicket to put South Africa in the driver’s seat as the hosts were 392/7 at Lunch.
Elgar was dismissed by Shardul Thakur on 185 but Marco Jansen held his ground strong and remained unbeaten on 72. The Indian bowling looked listless in the first hour of the day as they leaked runs and allowed Elgar and Jansen to stretch South Africa’s lead to over 100.
Premier pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj tried to create some problems with their disciplined line and length. But the third and fourth pace bowling options Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna failed to create any impact in the initial phase of the session.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin got the wicket of Gerald Coetzee at the stroke of Lunch but the Proteas already gained the upper hand by then in the match.
At the break, Marco Jansen (72) and Kagiso Rabada (1) were at the crease.
Elgar and Jansen resumed the Proteas innings in the first session and the duo looked confident with their approach. The veteran opener, who is playing his retirement series, comfortably crossed the 150-run mark. He was marching towards a double ton but Shardul with a short ball managed to get the better of him. His 185-run knock was laced with 28 boundaries. On the other hand, Jansen also showed his batting prowess and hit 9 fours and a six thus far.
The Indian bowlers were even more disappointing on the third morning with Shardul Thakur (1/101 in 19 overs) and Prasidh Krishna (1/92 in 19 overs) sprayed all over the place, only to be mercilessly punished by the former Proteas skipper Elgar and the lanky left-arm seamer Jansen.
Jasprit Bumrah (2/59 in 22 overs) and Mohammed Siraj (2/90 in 22 overs) once again were unlucky as they repeatedly beat the bat of Elgar and Jansen but didn’t have rub of the green going their way.
Brief Scores:
India: 245 all out.
South Africa: South Africa: 392 for 7 in 100 overs (Dean Elgar 185, Marco Jansen 72 not out; David Bedingham 56; Jasprit Bumrah 2/59, Mohammed Siraj 2/90).
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