India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took a superb five-wicket haul at the venue when he made his Test debut four years ago in 2018 to help his side take a slender lead of 13 runs against South Africa in the first innings of the third Test match being played at Newlands in Cape Town. At stumps, India were placed at 57/2 with an overall lead of 70 runs and with Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease.
Bumrah produced a superb spell of 23.3-8-42-5 to help India bowl South Africa out for 210 in their first innings, in reply to the visitors’ total of 223. A 13-run lead did give India an edge ahead of South Africa, whose batsmen again failed to bat for long periods of time and could not produce enough resistance against a relentless Indian bowling attack.
Apart from Bumrah taking five wickets, Umesh Yadav took 2/64 from his 16 overs whereas Mohammad Shami took 2/39 from as many overs while the fourth seamer, Shardul Thakur, returned with 1/31 from his 12 overs. The lone spinner in the Indian team, Ravichandran Ashwin remained wicketless while giving away just 15 runs from his 9 overs while sending down 3 maidens.
For South Africa, middle-order batsman Keegan Petersen once again impressed as he scored a superb 72 which came from 166 balls and with the help of 9 boundaries. There were several other batsmen from the home team who got off to starts but could not convert their innings into a big score, which included Rassie van der Dussen (21), Temba Bavuma (28) along with nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj, who was dismissed for 25.
Bumrah began the day for India by dismissing South Africa opening batsman Aiden Markram, who offered no shot to a delivery which came inside and knocked down his off stump. The right-arm India fast bowler went on to claim the wickets of Petersen, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi as well as Kagiso Rabada.
India were made to work hard for their wickets as South Africa batsman did try to stitch long partnerships. The longest partnership for the home team came for the fourth wicket between Petersen and van der Dussen, who added 67 runs from 114 balls. Petersen also added 42 runs with Bavuma as the two threatened to take South Africa to a position of command on Wednesday.
After South Africa were bowled out for 210, Indian openers once again had to deal with failures at KL Rahul was caught behind off Jansen for 10 whereas Mayank Agarwal was dismissed for 7 by Rabada.
Kohli reached 14 not out from 39 balls with the help of two boundaries whereas Pujara was unbeaten on nine from 31 balls with two fours in his account when the play was called off for the second day of the final Test for the Freedom Series 2021-22.
