Pune Test: India take massive lead of 326 runs over S Africa on Day 3

Pune: Brilliant bowling from Ashwin (4/69) and Umesh Yadav (3/37) helped India bowl out South Africa for 275 and take a massive 326-run first innings lead on day three of the second Test, here at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday. 

India bowlers especially Shami (2/44) and Umesh Yadav's (3/37) ran through Proteas the top-order in the morning session. However, Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj had a record 9th wicket stand to stall India. The duo batted out 43.1 overs before Keshav Maharaj fell to R Ashwin towards the end of the day.Resuming at their overnight score of 36 for 3, South Africa lost Anrich Nortje and Theunis de Bruyn within the first hour of the day. 

After that, captain Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock tried to avoid further damage and punished the loose balls and didn't look in much trouble like the earlier batsmen.Du Plessis had 10 hits to the fence including one maximum while De Kock hit seven boundaries. It was Ashwin, who removed De Kock with a classical off-break ball.

Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis scored his second half-century on the tour before getting out to Ashwin on 64. Soon after Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Senuran Muthusamy and it looked like South Africa were inching closer to the end of their first innings.South Africa were struggling at 162 for 8 but Philander and Maharaj came together and showed the top-order batsmen how to bat in these conditions. 

Philander and Maharaj added 109 runs for the 9th wicket but more importantly batted out 43.1 overs. The stand between Philander and Maharaj is now the highest 9th wicket partnership in India-South Africa Tests.

Keshav Maharaj registered the highest score (72) for a South African batsman while Vernon Philander remained unbeaten for 44.

R Ashwin picked his fourth wicket when he trapped Kagiso Rabada lbw as South Africa were all-out for 275 and India finished with a lead of 326 runs after the end of Day 3. 

Brief Scores:

India 1st innings: 601 for 5 declared

South Africa 1st innings: 275 all out in 105.4 overs.

(UNI)