Chennai: India showcased their supremacy on Day 3 of the Test match against South Africa, firmly placing themselves in control by enforcing the follow-on after dismissing the visitors for 266 runs in their first innings.
The day belonged to spinner Sneh Rana, whose outstanding bowling performance saw her claim 8 wickets, dismantling the South African batting lineup with skillful variations and precise control.
Starting the day at 236/8, South Africa could only add 30 runs to their overnight total before being bowled out. Despite efforts from their lower order, none of the top-order batsmen managed to convert their starts into substantial scores, leaving South Africa vulnerable against India's disciplined bowling attack.
In response, India opted to enforce the follow-on, putting pressure on South Africa to bat again after falling short of India's first innings total. India had put up a staggering 603/6 in first innings. The decision immediately paid dividends as India's spinners continued to exploit the turning pitch. Deepti Sharma, complementing Rana's brilliance, made crucial breakthrough to further destabilise South Africa's batting lineup.
At lunch on Day 3, South Africa found themselves struggling at 29/1 in their second innings, still trailing by a significant margin. India's spinners, supported by strategic field placements, maintained a tight grip on the proceedings, leaving South Africa with a monumental task to avoid defeat.
Amidst India's commanding performance, there was a brief moment of concern when Sneh Rana left the field due to injury during the second innings. However, India's overall dominance remained unaffected as they continued to dictate terms in the match.
Looking ahead, with five and a half sessions remaining in the Test, South Africa face an uphill battle to salvage a draw, let alone a win. Their hopes now rest on a resilient batting performance to counter India's spin threat and extend the match.
The match continues to unfold with India firmly in control, poised to clinch victory unless South Africa can stage a remarkable turnaround in the remaining days of the Test. Stay tuned for further updates as the drama unfolds on the field.