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Big partnership in the context of the game. If they can add another 20-odd, the lead becomes noteworthy in a low scoring slug fest. As is Jansen showing he may well become a #7, while Keshav is playing with the poise of a man who has 3 Test 50s. Very organised. He probably has done himself a disservice, especially in a South African side both devoid of batsmen and obsessed with pace, in not working a little harder on his batting to be a #7.

msp83 wrote:India unraveling, despite Kohli's best test innings since that 73 in Australia. In danger of getting bowled out for a very belo-par total here, need 300 + on the board here, no sign of reaching even 200 at this rate.

Flakiness of the Indian batting evident again
Rahane, Puajar and Kohli are all worth average 30 runs only........and ashwin worth 15 runs
shardul is a shaky starter....neds to deliver a 50 today

what's par becomes known only when the 2nd team bats...and I think that might be 225-250ish

Pujara and Pant failed to kick on after getting set, Rahane didn't surprise anyone! Ashwin undone before he could do any damage. India will have to fix their misfiring batting soon. Even England wouldn't want to select Rahane in his current version! India should start the transition after this test. Should be Rahane's last test.
Think the pathetic batting performance on this good track, means that the hopes of that historic series win, might have to wait, unless Bumrah and co can do something outlandish! Can't expect the bowlers to back up pathetic batting displays each and every time though.

KP_fan wrote:

msp83 wrote:India unraveling, despite Kohli's best test innings since that 73 in Australia. In danger of getting bowled out for a very belo-par total here, need 300 + on the board here, no sign of reaching even 200 at this rate.

Flakiness of the Indian batting evident again
Rahane, Puajar and Kohli are all worth average 30 runs only........and ashwin worth 15 runs
shardul is a shaky starter....neds to deliver a 50 today

what's par becomes known only when the 2nd team bats...and I think that might be 225-250ish

Think Rahane's average of 19 over the last year or so, is actually indicative of what we really can expect from him of late. Like a Shardul at 8, he would average 20, give you a 50 or a 40 some times. But unlike Shardul, Rahane is a specialist bat, the number 5 batter.

Kohli did not bat like a millionaire...but one who is in debt.....leaving outside the off, playing close to the body and getting his head right on top of the ball when in front foot defense and generally when driving
Not really like the Kohli of his peak ..with much less flourish and a lot more tightness...like Ganguly upon his return from exile and in the last 2 odd years of his cricket

Keshav Maharaj getting a couple to do just that little bit. R Ashwin should be encouraged to see that. Think this is going to be a long bowling innings for India, and that Ashwin will have to do some serious lifting.
On the best batting track of the series, India producing an abject performance.

KP_fan wrote:Kohli did not bat like a millionaire...but one who is in debt.....leaving outside the off, playing close to the body and getting his head right on top of the ball when in front foot defense and generally when  driving
Not really like the Kohli of his peak ..with much less flourish and a lot more tightness...like Ganguly upon his return from exile and in the last 2 odd years of his cricket

Indeed he did. And now playing more expansively. Kohli did have to change his game plans a bit to remain successful at the highest level, and he seems to be realizing it. Gavaskar on commentary was noting that Kohli has cut down on his pre-delivery movement, and is making a concious effort not to play at those balls outside off, not to feel bat on ball on those, the major cause of his undoing of late.

Lord S! Takes India to 200 with a 6 of KG Rabada!
Marko Jansen has been the most impactful bowler for South Africa so far, but KG has bowled a terrific couple of spells in which he could have had more than the 2 he got.

Hope Shardul keeps his head against Maharaj, and do not end up doing something silly. Kohli showing trust in Shardul...

On the first test eve, Kohli said that R Ashwin is the spinner, and Shardul the all-rounder. Ash rightly, has coming in ahead of Thakur, but its time for Shardul to repay the skipper's trust.

Well, not in this innings. Thakur chips Maharaj to cover, and the catch is ruled in favor of the fielding side. India 205-7.

This pitch has a hint of grip for spinners on already on D1 unlike the pitches in first two test...where there was no grip even until D4

Jasprit Bumrah in at 9, ahead of Umesh and Shami. Bumrah since England, shows Ishant-like stickability, and guess with Kohli still in the middle, perhaps the right call. Hopefully, Bumrah would score a few to give himself something to bowl at.

Bumrah promoted and he has looked better than Shami
double digits required from all 3 pace bowlers

that one from Rabada that got Bumrah.....was a Brute that just kept coming up & up from a length
No way is it a 300 pitch or even 275

This pitch on day one isn't a 300 pitch, but it's been an overcast day and the green grass should get dull. I was surprised India chose to bat first, and with their innings possibly not even getting to 80 overs, the idea of bowling first because of possible day five pitch behaviour is not looking too hot.

Pretty good bowling effort from South Africa today. Rabada has been brilliant, and I've liked what I've seen of Jansen though he is somewhat 'green' and bowls a few too many boundary balls.

But in South Africa 223 is competitive. The balance in South Africa is tilted a little too far in favour of the bowlers, but it's infinitely preferable to watching tests that are batsman-dominant.

Kohli still not in enuf form to farm the strike and toy with the bowling and ended up nicking tamely

223 is what we've got and I think it about a 250n run pitch..if India bowl line-length with pace without trying to blast off the SA batsmen and get wicket every over

In this 30 minutes, India surely will need Elgar, and possibly a couple more, to even give themselves a chance.
Think this underwhelming batting effort, they will be playing catch-up from now on, and though inexperienced is the South African batting lineup, there is Elgar, one of the better test openers in the world currently, the experienced and improving Temba Bavuma, and Rassie van der Dussen, wwith long FC experience, and international success. The lower order isn't the same as the Klusener Pollock era, but Maharaj and Rabada are capable of making impactful contributions, and Jansen can evolve into a capable number 7. If India don't get off to a great start, I see South Africa getting closer to 300 or even beyond. And unless Rahul or Kohli get runs, India's par batting effort can be expected to be around 250...

Umesh, and not Shami with the new ball. Not sure of this... Umesh of course can swing it a bit at times, but think India need to keep it tight up front, and not sure UY is the man for that.

Dean Elgar as usual, got hit on the body first over, nearly got an edge next up, and as usual, survived it all! Decent first over from Bumrah after a couple of legsidish offerings, but nothing special from Umesh in his first.

Bumrah not making the batters play enough. Not looking at his best rhythm. Warning signs for India...

Elgar departs to a ball he couldn't do much about. Markram has looked really solid here. At 95/2, I'm sure India thought they'd do better, 128/8 with an older ball and the sun out is something of a horror show

Bumrah got Elgar early.! For once, Elgar's edge was found rather than missed, and Pujara took it well. Maharaj the nightwatchman. India missed a run-out chance of Maharaj. And Keshav has done his job, got a few runs, and protected Petersen... South Africa end the day 17-1. India would needed at least 1 more tonight. Markram did have a couple of uncomfortable moments but has largely looked alright. Maharaj is the type of player who can hurt you quickly, he plays his shots. Even a half hour of him tomorrow, could be some damage for India.

Through this series...whenever and after India has gotten Elgar....SA has crumbled

SA in a spot of bother early today...Markram and Maharaj gone at 54/3.  Lot on this pair of Petersen and Van der Dussen...

India didn't let Markram and Maharaj to do serious damage. But Petersen is looking good, and he has spend good time in the middle. Rassie, and then there is the in-form Bavuma to come, and Kyle Verreynne averages 50 in FC cricket. So yes, they've got an opening, but if India keep giving away easy runs as Umesh is doing going at close to 4 an over, then the advantage could be lost very quickly.

A number of edges falling short of the slips. Have a feeling they are standing a touch too back. Need to take a step forward, the slips.

South Africa taking the busy approach, the right approach, on a very tough wicket. Incredibly difficult to bat on. If they make 200 they'll have done well.

Umesh going at over 4 an over. Yes he did get a wicket, but this is why I'd have gone for Ishant instead, on his day, the best of the Indian lineup in bowling dry. With a terrible batting effort, India can't afford the luxury of a leeky but attacking option. Particularly when the spinner can't be expected to do too much heavy lifting in the first innings at least.

Ashwin with a defensive first over. He does need to put a premium on runs. India don't have a lot more left in the bank. But it'll be great if he can induce a mistake from one of these 2, for that he will have to try and beat the batter in the air. So, a bit of a spot he finds himself in...

Shardul's also going at 3.5 an over. India lacking control... As Duty said, the right approach from South Africa. Don't really think this is by any means an impossible track to bat on. Challenging yes, but by no means impossible. And the ball is getting older as well, though KG Rabada did bowl his most incisive spell with a 40 over old ball yesterday.

Petersen reverse-sweeping Ashwin. He played it well that time, but don't think Ashwin should mind too much. He seems to be in a mind to take Ashwin on, hope Ash challenges him to hit over the top, or across the line...

Jasprit Bumrah back on. Possibly a couple of overs before lunch, if he can take a 3rd, that lunch will be a lot more comfortable for his side.

This lad Keegan Petersen, he's beginning to find his feet in international cricket. Does look a good player, and if he has the game to play spin in spinning conditions, could be a very handy batter for South Africa.

So South Africa 100-3 at lunch. Petersen looks really good, and vdD has done his bit. Bumrah gave India a great start in the morning, but since then, its been South Africa so far. Even Keshav did his job pretty alright. Bumrah was good, Shami OK. Umesh and Shardul will have to be more on the money in the next session, can't expect Bumrah to keep bowling throughout the day.

Umesh produced a fine delivery right after lunch making Kohli review, only for the ball to be going a bit higher over the wickets. But then, he has started leacking runs, and Kohli is not left with options other than giving him a deep point... Rassie could have been run-out early as well, but Lord S couldn't produce the direct hit that was needed. India not winning the small moments, and the partnership is inching up. Another half hour of these 2, South Africa should be well ahead...

Another golden run-out opportunity missed, now by Rahane who's utility is limited to the field these days! The easiest of chances missed, vdD wasn't in the frame even!. Rassie should be notching up that first test ton today, he really has some luck going for him in this innings!

Ah well, that ton will have to wait! Rassie edges Umesh, for Kohli to take the chance this time!

Umesh continues to frustrate. Got Rassie, then offered up a hit-me ball for Temba to get going, and then produced a good nut next up. Can we ever expect him to bring some discipline to his bowling!? In subcontinent, those strikes that he's capable of would be of greater value, as the spinners would usually ensure that the runs would be on a premium. But Umesh will have to bowl to better plans overseas. Yes, he has kept India alive in the game along with Bumrah, but if only he can bring about the latter's control as well...

Another 50 for Keegan Petersen. AB de Villiers was tweeting about how impressed he has been about Keegan, must say I agree.

Yadav bowls in the stumps line so he gets picked for runs.....but for that reason he picks wickets too....his pace is good touching 140kph and lowers trajectory makes the ball skids and come faster off the pitch

msp83 wrote:Another 50 for Keegan Petersen. AB de Villiers was tweeting about how impressed he has been about Keegan, must say I agree.

There's the foundations for a very good test team in home conditions at least. The bowling line up has good variation and has lots of potential, the batting isn't brilliant by all means but compared to some line ups you can see potential.

I did say at the start of the series that I thought we had things India might struggle against. I'm not altogether surprised to see us 1-1 in the deciding set with our noses out in front, but I thought Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram woulsd have been chief batsmen.

I don't think we can get away with a 5-1-5 team in England or New Zealand, and I'd like to blood Janneman Malan at some point, maybe at 6 with Ngidi or Maharaj missing out depending on conditions.

The bowling attack with the returning Olivier, emerging Jansen and currently absent Nortje is very strong. It's varied too with Olivier and Jansen coming in. Rabada is world class and does most things frankly. On top of him you've got express pace from Nortje, left-arm from Jansen and seam from Olivier.

I've felt for a while that Maharaj is an underrated Test bowler as well. When you factor in most his Tests being played outside of spin friendly conditions his numbers stack up well and he usually offers control. This is an odd series to be stating this during as the main blot on his record is admittedly that he's been absolutely obliterated by India both home and away. He's hardly the only spinner to get smashed by India.

The Proteas just need to look after Rabada in terms of their bowling strength. It's easy to forget he's still only 26 given how long he's been around and bowling brilliantly. A great in the making. Due in part to the quota systems SA can pretty much never afford to rest him though.

All that said it is a rather long tail at current. I actually like that direction of playing to their strengths by going bowler heavy. Doubling down as it were. There is a glaring issue with it though. That's exacerbated by losing QdK as well.

The bowlers have looked like getting a wicket all the time even when there was a partnership
It's that type of pitch.....not bad but sporty..and where cliched 1 gets 2 and 2 gets 3 applies

India bowlers showing the discipline, patient line and length that they lacked in second inning of T2

Looks like it's going to be a one innings shoot out, you always back the side bowling last in that situation

Bowled him....Neck & Crop...Bumrah

Good spells from Bumrah and Shami in that session. Getting Bavuma was absolutely key as he was scoring at a decent clip. If India can get a lead of 20-30 that could be a match-winning head start.

England and South Africa later in the year should be an entertaining festival of low scores and three day tests.

South Africa 182-8. KG looking to play his shots. Maharaj, Rabada and Jansen made a big difference eventually, in the last test. Bumrah getting Petersen straight after tea, India should stay focused and disciplined and don't let the last 2 wickets add a great deal more. Think Shami should be brought back on, Umesh continues to be leaky as always.

Rabada and Olivier adding a few here, Oliver has already played 21 deliveries... SA only 27 behind at the moment.
Rabada takes a nasty blow on the helmet from Umesh. Concussion test protocol... KG seems good enough...

Not for the first time, India at the wrong end of lower order resistance. Kohli with wrong bowling calls, Shami is surely better than Umesh in these situations, but Virat going on with Umesh... And Yadav continues to go at 4 an over...