India vs SA, 1st Test: Kohli fifty only a consolation prize as IND slump to innings defeat

South Africa beat India by an innings and 32 runs to sail to a 1-0 lead in the series. India were rocked in the final session of Day 3, losing 7 wickets for 59 runs to inch closer to an innings defeat and go 0-1 in the series. The collapse was triggered by Marco Jansen, who dismissed Shreyas Iyer to pick up his second wicket before Nandre Burger sent back KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin in back-to-back deliveries. Virat Kohli waged a lone battle with a half-century but it was nothing more than a consolation prize for India. Jasprit Bumrah was run out and Mohammed Siraj was caught behind as it all came crashing down for India with their hopes of winning a maiden Test series in South Africa going up in smoke.

India had reached 62/3 at Tea, trailing SA by 101 runs in their second innings on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test, in Centurion on Thursday. In response to South Africa’s first innings total of 408, India began on a weak note, losing openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) and Rohit Sharma (0) early. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill failed to build on a good start, falling for 26 off 37 balls.

Earlier on Day 3, SA posted 408, and have took a lead of 163 runs. Dean Elgar and Marco Jansen gave the Proteas a strong start on Day 3, and built a 100-run partnership. But Elgar narrowly missed out on a double hundred, falling to Shardul Thakur for 185 off 287 balls. Meanwhile, Jansen (72*) is currently unbeaten and will look to form a partnership with Kagiso Rabada (1*) in the post-Lunch session. Gerald Coetzee was the other South African wicket in the first session, falling to R Ashwin for 19 off 18 balls. Jansen built on his half-century in the post-Lunch session, but wasn’t supported by the tailenders. Kagiso Rabada (1) and Burger (0) fell to Bumrah as SA ended their innings with a massive lead. Initially, India posted 245 in the first innings and were bowled out on Day 2. KL Rahul (101) top-scored for the visitors with a ton. Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada bagged five wickets for South Africa.

Below are a few pointers from India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 3.

– Dean Elgar scored 185 before he was the first South Africa batter out today, dismissed by Shardul Thakur.

– Marco Jansen struck a career-best 87 not out as South Africa’s innings ended at 408/9.

– The injured Temba Bavuma did not come to bat for South Africa.

– Jasprit Bumrah picked up 4/69 but South Africa managed to take a 163-run lead.

– India were off to a woeful start losing opener Rohit Sharma for a duck and Yashasvi Jaiswal for 5.

– Shubman Gill scored a quickfire 26 off 37 before he was bowled by Marco Jansen.

– Virat Kohli scored a fifty but it went in vain.

– India lost 7 wickets for 59 runs in the final session as SA wrapped up the game.