Highlights, India (IND) vs South Africa (SA), 1st Test Day 3: Play Called Off Due To Rain
Higlights: Day 3 of the first Test match between India (IND) and South Africa (SA) at Newlands, Cape Town on Sunday was washed out due to rain.
After persistent rain washed out the first two sessions on day three of the first Test between South Africa and India, play had to be finally called off for the day without a single ball being bowled on Day 3 as the rain gods refused to relent. Heavy showers had been forecast for Sunday and they duly arrived early in the morning. It didn't stop raining at all, instead picked up as the scheduled start time of play approached. The weather forecast says that conditions are expected to improve tomorrow and on the final two days of the first Test, a total of 196 overs need to be bowled.
South Africa reached 65 for two in their second innings after bowling India out for 209 in their first innings on the second day of the opening Test at Newlands on Saturday. The hosts have taken a lead of 142 runs as all-rounder Harik Pandya's fighting knock of 93 lifted India out of the hole but that didn't stop South Africa from getting a 77-run first-innings lead. Hashim Amla (4 batting) and night-watchman Kagiso Rabada (2 batting) were at the crease when the umpires called it a day. Earlier, Pandya (93) rekindled India's hopes of a fightback with a classic counter-attacking half century but fell shy of seven runs to reach his second Test century. Coming in at the fall of Ravichandran Ashwin when the Indians were tottering at 81/6, Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25) forged a 99-run eighth-wicket stand to take India past 200-run mark. For the Proteas, pacers Vernon Philander (3/33) and Kagiso Rabada (3/34) shared six wickets while Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel contributed with two scalps each. (Scorecard)
When and Where to watch: India (IND) vs South Africa (SA)
(IND) Vs (SA) is scheduled for a 2 pm IST (08:30 AM GMT) start. Live Streaming and TV information for the match can be found below.
India: TV: Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD and Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 3 HD
International: Live Streaming: Cricketgateway.
South Africa: TV: SuperSport Two. Live Streaming: SuperSport Live Video.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 2. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Online.
Middle East: TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD. Live Streaming: OSN Play.
India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 3
Till yesterday, comments were coming in - no problem for South Africa in this Test even if Steyn does not play. The lead is good and big enough. Now, with a target of JUST 208, questions will be as to how big will be the hole left by Steyn. Sometimes, they say, a session is good enough to win or lose a Test match. South Africa might just experience that as and when the day comes close. Join us back after the break.
A lot of improvement in Mohammed Shami's bowling this morning. He looked fitter and the results showed. He ended up with 3 wickets while Bumrah shred off his nerves, if any, with 3 scalps as well. Pandya and Bhuvi got 2 wickets each while Ashwin bowled just the solitary over.
When was the last time one saw an Indian seam unit take wickets not because of swing but because of hitting the deck? That is a tough question to answer. There was not too much of swing today and once the ball got soft, wickets were hard to come by, as the Maharaj-de Villiers stand showed. But the Indians showed their improvement in the seam department over the last 18 months, as they found out ways to get the wickets. 8 wickets in 21.2 overs for just 65 runs. Shocking for South Africa, brilliant by and for India.
We are short of adjectives to describe the way India have bowled in this session. Not because they picked up 8 wickets but just the effort put. They were on the money from the word go and Shami set the tone with his first over of the morning, removing Amla. It was then a procession, as wickets kept tumbling one after the other. After the openers, only de Villiers and Maharaj managed double figures for the Proteas.
It is surprisingly LUNCH as well on Day 4. There were close to 17 minutes remaining when AB was out, so one would have thought the Indian batsmen would need to bat for at least 1-2 overs before the break. Perhaps, the second session might be a 150-minute one.
OUT! The catch is legal and South Africa have been bowled out with still some time left in the first session! What an inspiring bowling performance by the Indians. A short ball outside off, de Villiers rocks back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. For a second, it seems like he has cleared the ropes but Bhuvneshwar Kumar is placed by Kohli to perfection. De Villiers hits that like an archer shoots his arrow towards a target placed in front of him, and finds Bhuvi to perfection. The umpires check for the legality of the catch and replays show that the fielder is fine. INDIA NEED 208 TO WIN!
Got him! Has AB holed out? The Indians are ecstatic and the umpires are checking whether Bhuvneshwar touched the rope while attempting that catch...
Landed outside off, de Villiers arches back and guides it towards third man. Does not take the single.
Full and outside off, pushed towards cover.
The batsman defends it from within the crease.