Twitter Reactions: Bowlers' day out as 18 wickets fall on Day 3, India in the driver's seat

It was a day when the bowlers reigned supreme. As many as 18 wickets fell in the day’s play. And when stumps were drawn on Day 3, India were in the driver’s seat. The Virat Kohli-led side ended the day with their scorecard reading 16/1 in the second innings, and the visitors currently lead South Africa by 146 runs.

Mayank Agarwal was the only man dismissed in the Indian second innings, with Marco Jansen scalping the right-hander. Agarwal edged a delivery that pitched outside off stump and left him, and De Kock gobbled up the offering with glee behind the stumps.

South Africa bowled out for 197 on Day 3

The South African batting lineup failed to show resistance. The Protean innings lasted 62.3 overs, and the hosts were bowled out for a total of 197. Skipper Dean Elgar was removed in the very first over of the South African innings by Jasprit Bumrah, and Keegan Petersen was cleaned up by Mohammed Shami for 15 to leave the hosts reeling at 25/2.

Things soon turned worse for the Proteas after Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen departed in quick succession too, and the South African scorecard read 32/4. And that is when the experienced duo of Temba Bavuma and Quinton De Kock began their rebuilding act.

Bavuma and De Kock put on a partnership of 72 runs for the 5th wicket and frustrated the Indian bowlers. While De Kock scored 34 off 63 deliveries, Bavuma helped himself to a 103-ball 52.

After the departure of De Kock, wickets once again fell at regular intervals. Wiann Mulder and Marco Jansen were both dismissed for less than 20, while Keshav Maharaj was removed by Bumrah for 12. Kagiso Rabada scored a 45-ball 25 for the Proteas, as the hosts were bowled out for 197 in the first essay. It was a day to remember for Mohammed Shami. Apart from scalping a five-wicket haul, the right arm pacer also picked up his 200th wicket in Test cricket.

Indian batters fall like ninepins

Resuming the Day with their scorecard reading 272/3, the Indian batting lineup crumbled, and the visitors were bowled out for 327. KL Rahul fell in the 4th over of the Day. To a short delivery from Rabada, the Indian opener went for the pull, the ball took his glove, and settled into the hands of wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock.

Ajinkya Rahane departed 16 balls later. To a good length delivery from Lungi Ngidi, Rahane went for the cut, the ball took the outside edge of his willow and De Kock completed the formalities behind the stumps, as the veteran walked back for 48.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shardul Thakur fell for single-digit scores as India suffered a batting collapse. The final Indian pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj added 19 runs before Bumrah was dismissed by Marco Jansen.

Lungi Ngidi was the star of the day for the Proteas with the ball and scalped a six-wicket haul. Kagiso Rabada also chipped in with 3 wickets as well.

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