India vs South Africa, Highlights, Day 3 Kotla Test: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane Help Hosts Extend Lead to 403 at Stumps

Morne Morkel took three wickets to leave India reeling. However, the partnership between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have taken South Africa out of the game totally. The game has slipped away from the visitors and with the lead having crossed 400, the game is firmly in India's grasp. Relive all the highlights here. (SCORECARD | NEWS | VIDEOS):

Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli shared the first 100-run partnership to extend India's lead past 400

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16:42 hrs IST: That is stumps and India are on top. The lead has crossed 400 and both batsmen are looking in ominous touch. Kohli is nearing a century while Rahane is continuing his good work after scoring a century in the first innings.

16:36 hrs IST: South Africa have taken the second new ball. Rahane has become the leading run-getter in this series.

16:29 hrs IST: The umpires are in discussion as the light fades at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Surprisingly, South Africa have opted to bowl Morne Morkel at this time.

16:20 hrs IST: Rahane notches up his eighth fifty. Combined with his century in the first innings, he has spectacularly turned his home average around. What a performance.

16:11 hrs IST: There is a sense of urgency to the team as they look for quick runs.

16:02 hrs IST: Rahane is coming close to his fifty. Combined with his century in the first innings, this is proving to be a monumental effort.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane strung the first century partnership in this series as India continued to dominate.

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15:52 hrs IST: Drinks at the Kotla and the situation is dire for South Africa. The lead is nearing 400 and the situation is firmly in India's grasp.

15:42 hrs IST: Rahane seems to be opening up as he takes the attack to Tahir. Kohli is content on playing the waiting game.

15:32 hrs IST: Good old fashioned Test cricket is being played at the Feroz Shah Kotla. There is no urgency shown as the wicket becomes sluggish. This is an indication that they are not declaring any time soon.

15:21 hrs IST: Kohli is approaching some landmarks. If he gets it, the Kotla Test will prove to be extra-special for him.

15:11 hrs IST: Dale Steyn is having fun on the boundary with one of the volunteer kids. Whether he is injured or on the field, Steyn always gives the cricketing fan reasons to smile. However, South Africa are not smiling at the moment.

15:01 hrs IST: South Africa are running out of ideas. The partnership has smoothly taken India's lead past 350.

14:53 hrs IST: The celebrations from Kohli were pretty muted, not the flamboyant way which he is known for. Maybe, he is eyeing a big century.

Virat Kohli broke a lean patch by registering his 12th fifty and his first at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

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14:45 hrs IST: The Kotla erupts in joy! What a moment. Kohli scores his 12th fifty and his first at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He has also broken his lean phase, scoring a fifty after eight innings.

14:36 hrs IST: The crowd roar in anticipation as Kohli nears his fifty. It will be a special moment for the local lad.

14:27 hrs IST: Welcome back for the final session. Will India declare? The lead is nearing 350 and on this pitch, it will require a superhuman effort for South Africa to chase this down.

Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli shared a fifty run partnership to consolidate India's lead.

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14:10 hrs IST: TEA!!! India have safely negotiated the tricky post lunch session. After they lost Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan in the post lunch session, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane added 59 runs to give hosts lead of 329 runs.   

14:00 hrs IST: Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli have completed their half-century stand to put the hosts on top. Morkel had given them the opportunity with early breakthroughs, since then hosts have been all over the visitors. 

13:45 hrs IST: 100 up for India in the second innings! Rahane has had a steadying influence in the middle. He has been the most consistent batsmen for the hosts off-late, as he brings a lot of calmness to the innings. But just as we speak, India's no. 6 hits one in the air back to the bowler. Morkel, however, fails to hold on to it in his follow through -- tough chance really!

13:35 hrs IST: Morkel returns for another spell and he almost struck! Perfect delivery to Rahane, who was neither forward nor back -- luckily for India, he didn't get an edge. Next up is another peach of a delivery from Morkel as Rahane tries to flick it. South Africans are celebrating but umpire is unmoved. Replays suggest there was no edge -- South Africans can't believe it.

13:25 hrs IST: 300-run lead for India!! A single off Piedt gives the hosts the psychological lead. With the ball keeping low and turning, this partnership could well turn out to be the difference maker at Kotla. Kohli and Rahane as of now have added 33-runs stand -- second best of this innings so far. 

13:15 hrs IST: Piedt returns for another spell after the drinks break. South African skipper Amla is looks out of sorts as he is swapping the bowlers in search of a breakthrough.

Imran Tahir (centre) of South Africa reacts after a delivery during day three of the fourth Test against India.

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13:10 hrs IST: Amla has now spread out the field considering India's lead is nearing the 300-run mark. Easy singles are on offer as Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli are more than happy to take singles and rotate the strike. 

13:04 hrs IST: Edged but falls short! Rahane looks to pull a short ball but it comes on sluggishly, he inside edges it onto the thigh pad and it lobs up, Vilas rushes forward but the ball just lands short.

12:59 hrs IST: Things have finally settled down and Kohli has quickly moved to 15. However, this incident will be the talking point. Will Kohli be fined for showing dissent? In a normal world, yes! However, in this world, he might escape.

12:52 hrs IST: Replays suggest that there was no edge! The decision was wrong but so was Kohli's reaction. At the other end, Rahane is calmly continuing his good form by lacing Abbott to the cover boundary. This is a hostile period for both India and South Africa.

12:48 hrs IST: When the replays were shown, Kohli was absolutely fuming. He suggested that there was a gap between bat and ball and there was no edge. This is not good viewing.

12:45 hrs IST: Massive drama! Kohli apparently edged a legbreak and Vilas appealed for a catch. Umpire Bruce Oxenford raised the finger and Kohli is absolutely stunned! He is angry and has his hands on his hips. He refuses to move and he starts to walk off. He is letting out some expletives before the umpire tells him to wait. They check for the no-ball and by twist of fate, Tahir's foot is not behind the line. The umpire overturns the decision and the Kotla erupts. Kohli has a quiet chat with umpire Oxenford and apologises. However, the reaction on his decision might lead to a fine.

12:35 hrs IST: WICKET! The collapse is on. Tahir joins in the party. Flatter delivery and it skids on straight, Pujara plays down the wrong line and the ball knocks the off stump. India are 57/4, leading by 270 runs. Pujara b Tahir 28 (79).

Shikhar Dhawan was cleaned up by a magnificent yorker from Morne Morkel as India suffered an early jolt after lunch.

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12:30 hrs IST: Just a simple push and skipper Virat Kohli gets off the mark with a boundary. What bats! That draws a huge cheer from the Kotla.

12:24 hrs IST: WICKET! Magnificent ball from Morkel. He has been the star of the day. Possibly, the ball of the match. Morkel stays round the wicket and gets this delivery to swing back in sharply, it is over 140 kmph and Dhawan is late in getting the bat down, the ball hits the leg stump and the birthday boy departs for 21. India 53/3, lead by 266 runs.

12:19 hrs IST: Imran Tahir and Morkel are operating in tandem. The run-rate is just under two. Scoring in this Test has been very sluggish and only when Rahane was batting did the scoring rate in a particular session go over four.

12:10 hrs IST: We are back for the second session. Morne Morkel to resume proceedings. He bowled magnificently in the first session and he will be aiming for more wickets. Can Dhawan and Pujara hold fort at the Kotla?

11:52 hrs IST: While we wait for the second session, Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay, who both hail from Chennai, have decided to give a helping hand to the city at a time when it is reeling from the most severe floods.

Shikhar Dhawan was angry during the third day at the Kotla as the staff were slow in giving him medical attention after he was hit on the forearm by an Imran Tahir delivery.

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11:40 hrs IST: Dhawan was angry because he did not get medical attention quickly after he was hit by a rising delivery from Imran Tahir. He wanted a forearm guard and the magic spray quickly. The reserves, KL Rahul and Gurkeerat Mann were too slow in conveying the message and Dhawan vented out his fury at them. Team director Ravi Shastri was also angry with the slow co-ordination. Remember, Dhawan had sustained a fractured arm during the Sri Lanka series and he wants to protect his arm.

11:30 hrs IST: Lunch has been taken at the Kotla with India's lead sitting pretty at 264. Dhawan and Pujara have played really well. However, the real issue is, why was Dhawan angry? Ravi Shastri was also angrily shouting at someone.

Shikhar Dhawan played a solid knock on day three as India stretched their lead.

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11:21 hrs IST: This is a surprise. Dhawan, who is normally a pleasant man, was angrily gesturing to the dressing room. Apparently, he was not happy with something. He seemed to be angry with KL Rahul. But, as he reaches the boundary ropes, he apologises to Rahul.

11:16 hrs IST: Tahir gets a delivery to spit back in sharply from the rough outside off and it hits Dhawan on the arm. This is the perils of batting in a dustbowl.

11:10 hrs IST: Imran Tahir is into the attack. Can he get some purchase and break this stand?

11:01 hrs IST: Abbott and Piedt are ensuring that the pressure is being maintained but both batsmen are ready for the hard graft.

10:52 hrs IST: With a streaky boundary down to fine leg off Abbott, Pujara takes India's lead past 250. This has been a trick session for India. Run-making will not be easy on this deck as the day progresses.

Shikhar Dhawan once again grafted hard in a tricky session as India tried to steady the ship on day three.

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10:44 hrs IST: Once again, Dhawan is grafting hard. Can he convert his hard work into a big knock today?

10:35 hrs IST: Pujara and Dhawan are aiming to steady the ship. Morne Morkel is really bowling a hostile spell and the lead is coming close to 250.

10:26 hrs IST: Piedt is getting decent turn and he is troubling Dhawan with a bit of extra bounce as well. Jadeja and Ashwin will be watching with broad grins on their face.

10:18 hrs IST: Dane Piedt comes on into the attack. He was impressive in the first innings until he was taken to the cleaners by Ajinkya Rahane. At the other end, Morkel is bowling a hostile spell.

10:09 hrs IST: Pujara, who was demoted to number four because he was in a bit of pain following the blow to his arm, gets off the mark with a five! Maybe, this could be the end for Rohit Sharma's Test career for the moment?

Rohit Sharma had a horrible Test match after he was cleaned up for a golden duck by Morne Morkel.

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10:04 hrs IST: WICKET! Brilliant ball from Morkel and Rohit Sharma is cleaned up for a golden duck. The tall fast bowler gets this delivery to straighten on a full length, Rohit plays down the wrong line totally and the stumps are destroyed. India 8/2, lead by 221 runs.

09:58 hrs IST: The Kotla crowd erupt as Dhawan laces a magnificent drive through extra cover. Can the Delhi-lad put up a special performance on his 30th birthday?

Murali Vijay was dismissed by a Morne Morkel bouncer as South Africa started off with a bang at the Kotla on Saturday.

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09:55 hrs IST: WICKET! Brute of a ball from Morkel and Vijay falls. Morkel gets this short delivery to rear up sharply and Vijay looks to fend it, the ball brushes the glove and Vilas takes a leaping one-handed catch. Vijay is furious as he walks off as he thumps his arm guard with the bat. India 4/1, leading by 217 runs.

09:47 hrs IST: Dhawan is yet to get off the mark while Vijay is batting confidently. India are content on taking their time as they know that the bowlers will run through an abysmal South African batting

09:39 hrs IST: Good first overs from Kyle Abbott and Morkel. They have been accurate as the pitch becomes more sluggish. Morkel continues to maintain a back of a length to short of a length area.

09:33 hrs IST: Today is Shikhar Dhawan's birthday. Will he play a special knock in his hometown? Today is his last but best chance. Two slips and a gully in place as Morne Morkel charges in.

09:30 hrs IST: India will be aiming for a lead close to 350 or 400. There is plenty of time in their hands and they might even be tempted to get some of their batsman back to form.

09:25 hrs IST: A warm welcome to day three of the fourth and final Test between India and South Africa from the Feroz Shah Kotla. It is the same old story for South Africa. Woeful against spin and crumbling like a house of cards. India are armed with a 213-run lead and they have not enforced the follow-on. They will be aiming to consolidate their dominance.

India will be hoping for a good performance by Murali Vijay at the top of the order.

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Once again, South Africa's batting came crashing down on an Indian pitch. And with Kotla's wearing track not expected to get any better, the odds are heavily stacked against the Proteas.

India will aim to build quickly on their 213-run first innings lead. The decision not to enforce the follow-on after South Africa were all out for 121 in less than 50 overs was a wise one. It is dangerous to bat fourth on this Kotla wicket and India have never lost a Test in Delhi.

South Africa will surely attack with the new ball. In five-star Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel, they have two quality seamers who can exploit the morning conditions. It is unlikely that the South African bowlers will throw in the towel easily.

Ajinkya Rahane became the first batsman to score a century in the ongoing India-South Africa Test series.

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India must guard against indiscretion. In terms of application and temperament, the Indians, particularly Ajinkya Rahane, have done much better than the South Africans, but a few top order Indians like Rohit Sharma have been vulnerable.

Day 3 could be the most interesting day of the match. Although India are in pole position, South Africa will surely make one desperate bid at redemption.