India extended their overall lead to 146 runs at stumps on the third day of the opening Test match being played against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday, after Mohammad Shami took a splendid five-wicket haul to help the visitors take a huge lead of 130 runs in the first innings.
Shami returned with figures of 16-5-44-5 in the first innings, helping India bowl South Africa out for just 197 after the visitors posted a competitive first innings total of 327 despite suffering a batting collapse. The second day’s play in the first Test on Monday was washed out due to rains after the visitors had reached a strong position of 272/3, riding on a brilliant century by KL Rahul, on Sunday.
India resumed on Tuesday looking to add more to their total but Lungi Ngidi produced a six-wicket haul for himself, accounting for the likes of Ajinkya Rahane (48) and Shami (8), after he had claimed the wickets of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal on the first day.
On Tuesday, the South African fast bowler Ngidi also dismissed India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant for 8, sparking a batting collapse after the visitors threatened to put up a huge total on the board.
Ngidi returned with figures of 24-5-71-6 whereas right-arm fast bowler Kagiso Rabada also picked up three wickets to return with 3/72 from his 26 overs. The two fast bowlers ensured that India did not get away with a big total, as the visitors lost 7 wickets for 55 runs in what turned out to be an embarrassing batting collapse after having done the hard work on the opening day of the series for the Freedom Trophy 2021.
The visiting side made an early breakthrough when they had South Africa opener and captain Dean Elgar walking back to the hut in the first over itself, with Pant taking a sharp catch off Jasprit Bumrah. South Africa lost Keegan Petersen for 15 whereas Rassie van der Dussen fell to Mohammed Siraj for 3 in the second session.
South Africa was studied by their middle order batsmen Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma, who added 72 runs for the fifth wicket to provide the team with some stability. However, after de Kock was removed by Shardul Thakur, South Africa folded soon as they were bowled out for 197 in their first innings, giving India a huge lead of 130 runs.
Shami accounted for Petersen, Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder (12), Aiden Markram (13) and Rabada (25) to complete his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, during which he also went past 200 wickets in the format for India.
For South Africa, their vice-captain Bavuma produced a fighting half-century, making 52 from 103 balls with 10 boundaries whereas de Kock made 34 from 63 balls with the help of three fours and one six.
India lost their opening batsmen Mayank Agarwal for cheap after they came out to bat in the second innings, with left-arm South Africa fast bowler Marco Jansen claiming the wicket. At stumps, KL Rahul was batting on 5 in the company of nightwatchman Shardul Thakur who was on 4 not out.