India vs South Africa Mohali Test Day 3 Highlights: Ravindra Jadeja's 5/21 Gives Hosts Magnificent 108-Run Victory
It was a trial by spin for both India and South Africa. India were boosted by a solid knock from Cheteshwar Pujara but it was the duo of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin who stole the show. Jadeja in particular, put in a spectacular display with the ball while Ashwin continued his magnificent form. South Africa crumbled to a heavy defeat. Catch all the moments here.
India started off brightly on day three with Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli batting well. Pujara notched up a wonderful fifty but after Kohli's dismissal, India lost six wickets for 24 runs and they ended up on 200. South Africa were subject to trial by spin and Ravindra Jadeja picked up a magnificent five-wicket haul. He was well supported by R Ashwin who snapped up three wickets and India registered a thumping win over the Proteas. Catch all the highlights of day three here (SCORECARD | NEWS | SCHEDULE)
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16:22 hrs IST: That is all from this match. Join us in a couple of days for the second Test in Bangalore in what will be AB de Villiers' 100th Test. Happy Diwali to all.
16:00 hrs IST: Here are some of the quotes from all the key players of the match:
Virat Kohli: The ball did not turn square, but it is just that the batsmen played bad shots. I think this was more a bowler's game. The spinners stood out.
Hashim Amla: I was surprised myself with my dismissal, I think it was a brain-freeze. It's unfortunate that we lost 4-5 wickets and put pressure on the lower-order.
Ravindra Jadeja (Man of the Match): The performances in the domestic circuit helped as I played on turning tracks in Rajkot. I scored three fifties on those tracks as well, so it helped me a lot.
15:50 hrs IST: Jadeja gets Imran Tahir and India have sealed a magnificent victory in Mohali. Jadeja picks up a five-wicket haul and along with R Ashwin, they have sealed a memorable victory. South Africa were never in the hunt once they lost the top order cheaply. India go 1-0 up thanks to this 108-run victory.
15:31 hrs IST: R Ashwin joins the fun and he gets rid of Stiaan van Zyl for 36. Classic offspinner's dismissal, it spun away and dipped and van Zyl pokes it to slip. The end is near for South Africa.
15:23 hrs IST: Wonderful stuff from Jadeja. He gets his fourth wicket and India are three wickets away from a win. Harmer c Rahane b Jadeja 11 (30).
Jadeja is on a roll. He slants this delivery in on leg stump and it spins away late, Harmer looks to turn it to mid wicket but gets a leading edge that is taken by Rahane at slip. The umpires wanted to check whether it was a no-ball and whether the catch was taken, Jadeja passed both of them.
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15:14 hrs IST: R Ashwin gets a delivery to spin across viciously as van Zyl gets beaten. India are rushing towards their overs and it will take a big effort if they are to bat out the day. One feels that if this resistance is broken, the wall could come crumbling down quickly.
15:03 hrs IST: Stiaan van Zyl is playing a mature knock and he is looking comfortable out in the middle. It is a shame that he is running out of partners and the situation is such that South Africa have fallen behind in the game.
14:52 hrs IST: While India close in on a victory, Bangladesh have moved to 136/4 against Zimbabwe in Mirpur. In Pallekele, rain has stopped the match between Sri Lanka and West Indies, with the tourists 12/2.
14:45 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav has been very unlucky in this match. He bowls a good length delivery that seams away outside off stump, van Zyl pokes at it but Shikhar Dhawan spills the chance at slip. In his next over, Simon Harmer survives a close lbw shout. The impact was potentially outside off stump.
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14:40 hrs IST: Leave at your own peril! South Africa will know this well after this debacle. A third batsman falls today as he tries to leave a straight delivery. Why can't they use their bat? Jadeja angles this delivery in on off stump, Vilas presses forward and looks to play but he leaves it and the ball hits the middle of off stump. South Africa 60/6, needing 158 more for a win.
14:30 hrs IST: Ravindra Jadeja is going to open the bowling after the tea break. Will the match end today or will South Africa stage a miracle? They are 162 runs away and the lower order has looked pretty fragile against spin.
14:10 hrs IST: It could be a gloomy tea session for South Africa. The top order were ripped to shreds by the spin trio and they are staring down the barre. They need a further 162 runs for victory but India need only five wickets.
14:00 hrs IST: International action continues in the rest of the world. Bangladesh have moved to 91/2 against Zimbabwe in Mirpur while the toss is just about to take place between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Pallekele.
13:53 hrs IST: Finally, pace gets a wicket in this Test. Aaron bowls this back of a length delivery on leg stump and Elgar looks to turn it to mid wicket, he gets a leading edge and Kohli gobbles it up at mid-on. South Africa are on the brink at 45/5, needing 173 runs more for a win.
13:41 hrs IST: So far, Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar are batting with good application. However, the pressure is building all the time. How much time will these two negotiate the spinning storm?
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13:30 hrs IST: South Africa are tottering at the moment in Mohali. Harbhajan Singh, who had tormented them in the past on these dustbowls, weighs in with this tweet.
With all due respect 218 to many for SA on this wicket... They might have to bat 2 time to get these.
- Harbhajan Singh (@harbhajan_singh) November 7, 2015
13:25 hrs IST: In Brisbane, New Zealand will be glad that the day is over. At stumps, Australia are 264/4 and lead by 503. The situation is dire for the Kiwis.
13:21 hrs IST: Brilliant! Brilliant from Amit Mishra. He gets AB de Villiers again with a peach of a delivery. This legbreak goes straight on and it stays low, de Villiers is rooted to the crease and the off stump is knocked out of the ground. South Africa 32/4, needing 186 more for a win. This wicket could potentially be game, set and match for India.
13:04 hrs IST: While wickets are tumbling like ninepins in Mohali, over in Brisbane, it is a runfeast. Joe Burns has scored his maiden century while Warner has scored back-to-back centuries. Australia are 258/2, leading by 497 runs. Brutal domination.
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12:59 hrs IST: This is simply baffling. Amla leaves a straight ball from Jadeja and he is cleaned up. What is with leaves and Jadeja's wickets? Hashim Amla b Ravindra Jadeja 0 (6).
Amla leaves a straight ball that has done nothing. It crashes into middle stump and South Africa sink further. South Africa 10/3, needing 208 more for a win.
12:48 hrs IST: Oh dear! The move to open with Philander has not worked. Ravindra Jadeja traps him LBW for 1 with a quick, straight delivery. However, replays show that there was an inside edge and he is mighty unlucky. In the next over, Faf du Plessis' miserable Test ends as he edges Ravichandran Ashwin to slip and he falls for 1. South Africa are in dire straits at 9/2 and the target of 218 is looking very distant.
12:43 hrs IST: This is a huge gamble. Vernon Philander, who opens the bowling normally, has come out to open the batting. He has a high score of 74. Will he be able to negotiate Ashwin and Co on this track?
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12:35 hrs IST: Saha leaves but a bit of extra bounce takes the edge and Tahir gets his fourth wicket. South Africa need 218 runs to win this Test match.
12:28 hrs IST: Wriddhiman Saha, who made a duck in the first innings, is chipping in with vital runs. The lead is slowly approaching 220. Every run is being cheered by the small contingent of fans at the venue and by the Indian dressing room.
12:21 hrs IST: Two consecutive appeals from Imran Tahir against Wriddhiman Saha. The first one clearly missed the edge, the second one, umpire Kettleborough fails to spot the edge. How much can India make?
12:17 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav mindlessly slogs and departs for 1. India lead by 205 runs and Simon Harmer now has four wickets.
12:10 hrs IST: Welcome back to the second session. Will Tahir be able to wrap up the innings quickly or will India score some quick runs and get the lead to over 220-230?
11:50 hrs IST: Meanwhile, in Brisbane, Joe Burns has scored his maiden Test century off 103 balls. However, the match has been interrupted by rain. Australia's lead is 412.
11:46 hrs IST: While lunch is being taken, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne have created history in New York. Have a look at the history making feat here.
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11:30 hrs IST: That is lunch and South Africa will be delighted. India have lost six wickets for 24 runs and the South African spinners have done an admirable job. Simon Harmer and Imran Tahir have chipped in with three wickets each. The lead is now 202 and both teams will feel that they have a chance.
11:27 hrs IST: Catch dropped by Elgar! How costly will that be? Harmer floats a full, loopy delivery on leg stump and Ravichandran Ashwin attempts the leg glance, Elgar at leg slip dives and tries to take a one-handed catch but he spills it.
11:18 hrs IST: Wickets are continuing to tumble. South Africa's spinners are doing the job. Ravindra Jadeja plays back to a quick, straight delivery and is trapped lbw while Amit Mishra top-edges a sweep to backward square leg. India have lost five wickets for 21 runs since Kohli's dismissal. They are 182/7, leading by 199 runs.
11:06 hrs IST: The onus is now on Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha to push India's lead to 250. Looking at this wicket, any target of over 250 will be difficult. Over in Brisbane, Australia are continuing their domination as they extend the lead to 379 versus New Zealand.
10:56 hrs IST: Missed run-out! Jadeja almost run-out. The left-hander nudges it to square leg and decides to take a single. However, he is taking it easy and the throw misses at the bowler's end. Jadeja would have been a goner if that had hit. India 167/5, leading by 184 runs.
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10:50 hrs IST: Wickets are falling in a heap now. Ajinkya Rahane falls to Simon Harmer for 2. Rahane c (sub) Bavuma b Harmer 2 (9).
Another sharp catch by Temba Bavuma. Harmer tosses this offbreak up and it spins back in, Rahane stabs at it and the inside edge flies to short leg, Bavuma takes a one-handed catch to his left
10:45 hrs IST: Pujara follows Kohli back into the pavilion. South Africa are roaring back into the contest. Cheteshwar Pujara c Amla b Tahir 77 (153).
Brilliant ball from Tahir on his first ball of his new spell. He floats a legbreak on off stump and it breaks away, Pujara pokes at it and the edge goes to slip where Amla takes the low catch easily.
10:40 hrs IST: Before this match, Stiaan van Zyl had only two Test wickets. Now, he has a third and it is the Indian skipper. Virat Kohli c Dane Vilas b Stiaan van Zyl 29 (71).
South Africa will heave a big sigh of relief. Stiaan van Zyl breaks the 66-run partnership by removing the Indian skipper. Good length ball around the off stump, Kohli goes for the drive but gets a thin edge, Vilas collects it awkwardly but manages to hold on. India 161/3, leading by 178 runs.
10:30 hrs IST: With a single to mid wicket, Pujara now has the highest individual score in this Test. Murali Vijay had scored 75 in the first innings. India are slowly pushing towards an insurmountable lead and South Africa are running out of options.
10:21 hrs IST: South Africa almost create chance. Kohli nudges a ball onto the pads to short fine leg and Faf du Plessis dives to his right to stop it. He immediately releases the ball but Pujara is well in. Du Plessis is clutching his shoulder but he is alright. South Africa cannot afford another injury.
10:13 hrs IST: South Africa are now trying every option to break this stand. Stiaan van Zyl, who bowls medium pace, comes into the attack. He has picked up two wickets in his career so far. Can he do a Dean Elgar and break this partnership?
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10:10 hrs IST: The fifty-run partnership is up between Kohli and Pujara. After smashing two boundaries off Rabada, Kohli turns his attention to Simon Harmer and he whips him through deep midwicket. After a quiet start, he is really opening up.
10:05 hrs IST: The first confident stroke of the morning and it comes from Virat Kohli. He stands tall and punches a back of a length delivery to deep extra cover and he follows it up with a classy flick to deep square leg for a boundary. India are 145/2, leading by 162 runs.
09:54 hrs IST: Rabada puts in an extra effort and the ball nips away at pace. Pujara loosely hangs his bat out and gets beaten. No runs have come off the bat for 28 deliveries. One ball went for four byes and finally Pujara cuts a short ball to deep point for a single. South Africa have dried up the runs but both batsmen do not look flustered. Meanwhile, in Brisbane, Australia have taken the lead past 300 against New Zealand.
09:49 hrs IST: The first 20 minutes of the morning are already signifying that it is going to be an uphill battle for the batsmen. The ball is keeping low and there is absolutely no pace on this deck. Run-scoring will be hard as the game progresses. At the start of the morning, India had used the heavy roller to flatten the pitch out even further.
09:43 hrs IST: First signs of trouble. Virat Kohli is lured into feeling for a delivery from Philander that seams away and he gets beaten. However, due to the dead nature of this track, the ball bounces in front of the wicketkeeper Dane Vilas.
09:30 hrs IST: Vernon Philander will start off proceedings with only one slip in place. He is getting a slight hint of swing but Pujara is comfortably negotiating it. The latest visuals show that Dale Steyn was hobbling during warm-ups and he is in the dressing room. He might not take the field today.
09:20 hrs IST: With play about to start in Mohali, let us bring you up-to-date with the situation in Brisbane. Kane Williamson's 11th Test century has helped New Zealand reach 317 but they trail Australia by 239 runs. In response, Australia have made a fast start.
09:15 hrs IST: A warm welcome to day three of the first Test between India and South Africa from Mohali. The hosts are in the driver's seat thanks to Ravichandran Ashwin's 5/51 and Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten fifty. Sunil Gavaskar, in his pitch report, has said more areas of the pitch have loosened up and batting will get harder as the game progresses. India will be aiming for a lead of over 300 if they are to put South Africa under pressure.
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With six over left for stumps on Day 2, Indian captain Virat Kohli walked in instead of a nightwatchman. Kohli, who scored just 1 run in the first innings, is keen to contribute and showed the right signs in his 27-ball stay in the middle. Kohli (11) and Cheteshwar Pujara (63) produced 30 runs off 41 runs on a difficult wicket. The duo has to show the same resolve on Saturday morning session. (Ashwin, Pujara Give India Edge Over South Africa on Day 2)
The Mohali wicket can only deteriorate further. So the Indians have to show discipline in shot selection and yet score the runs at a decent pace. With nine sessions left in the match, there is no shortage of time. Sunil Gavaskar can't see South Africa scoring 300 in the fourth innings and winning this Test match.
As Kohli said in his pre-match press conference, only the bowlers can win this Test match. Ravichandran Ashwin has already proven that with his five-wicket spell that broke the back of the visitors.
South Africa are one bowler short and even if he didn't get wickets in the first innings, the absence of an injured Dale Steyn, will hurt the Proteas. The South Africans are unlikely to risk Steyn in a match where they will need a miracle to win. JP Duminy and Morne Morkel are already down with injuries.
India resume at 125 for two. Pujara hit the first six of the match in the final session of play on Friday. There could be more fireworks in store.