India vs South Africa Highlights, 1st Test Day 3: Proteas bowl India out for 131, collect innings win inside 3 days

20:53 (IST)

That brings us to the end of our coverage of the first Test between South Africa and India at Centurion’s SuperSport Park, with the action set to shift to Cape Town’s picturesque Newlands where Rohit and Co will hope to pull off a series-levelling win and end the tour on a high, even if their hopes of winning a Test series on South African soil has been dashed again.

On behalf of my colleagues at Firstpost, this is Amit signing off, wishing you all a Happy New Year! See you all in 2024!

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

Dean Elgar is the Player of the Match for his outstanding 185 that proved to be the difference between the two sides!

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

That was as embarrassing as it could get for the Indians, who for some reason had entered the two-Test series as the favourites despite their poor record in the ‘Rainbow Nation’. The Rohit Sharma-led side were widely backed as the one to finally conquer the ‘Final Frontier’. South Africa, however, gave them another stern reminder as to why they remain such a formidable side in their own backyard despite having not played Test cricket since March, outperforming their opponents in all three departments across three days to ensure they will have their hand on the ‘Freedom Trophy’ in Cape Town — whether they lift it by themselves or share it with India.

Virat Kohli fought hard in the second innings and was batting in a manner similar to Elgar by maintaining a positive run rate. However, while Elgar was able to forge sizeable partnerships with the likes of David Bedingham and Marco Jansen, Kohli was reduced to a helpless spectator as wickets tumbled at an alarming rate at the other end.

India had been competitive in their last two tours, but the manner with which they got outplayed at the SuperSport Park this week is reminiscent of the one-sided battles in the 1990s and raises serious questions with regards to this team.

20:34 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 34.1 overs,India 131 (  , Prasidh Krishna 0)

OUT! Outstanding catch by Rabada near long on as Virat Kohli is the last batter to fall, perishing while looking to smash the ball down the ground for a maximum! Was a short-of-length ball from the left-arm quick to which Kohli attempted to dance down the ground and attempt a slash over the bowler's head.

Jansen grabs the final wicket as South Africa thrash India by an innings and 32 runs inside three days!

Kohli c Rabada b Jansen 76(82)

20:32 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 34 overs,India 131/9 ( Virat Kohli 76 , Prasidh Krishna 0)

FOUR! FOUR! Kohli moves to 76 with back-to-back hits to the fence off Burger — slashing a short-of-length ball outside off over backward point before dancing down the track and going for a lofted drive towards long off. Nine off the over with a leg bye getting added two balls later.

20:27 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 32 overs,India 121/9 ( Virat Kohli 67 , Prasidh Krishna 0)

FOUR! Streaky boundary for Siraj as an inside edge off his blade beats the keeper and results in the ball running all the way to the fine leg fence. Burger, however, responds with a brute of a delivery two balls later, getting Siraj caught-behind with a snorter that brushes Siraj’s finger before deflecting off his helmet and landing in the keeper’s gloves, though the Proteas have to take it upstairs in order to reverse umpire Paul Reiffel’s original decision of ‘Not Out’. India are one wicket away from abandoning their hopes of conquering the ‘Final Frontier’ yet again!

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

OUT! Burger comes up with a brute of a reply after conceding a boundary to Siraj, dismissing the Indian No 10 with a snorter than ends up getting him caught-behind. Siraj is struck on the helmet while attempting to duck to a bouncer that doesn't climb as much as he had originally expected, and the South Africans appeal for a catch after the ball lands in keeper Verreynne's gloves. And sure enough, UltraEdge confirms a deflection off Siraj's thumb, with the ball then hitting his helmet before landing in the keeper's gloves. Drinks brought out to the field now with India one wicket away from suffering an innings loss! IND 121/9

Siraj c Verreynne b Burger 4(5)

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Streaky boundary for Siraj as an inside edge off his blade beats the keeper and results in the ball running all the way to the fine leg fence. IND 121/8

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Length ball from Rabada outside off, and Kohli steers this through the gap between the slip cordon and gully to move to 67. IND 117/8

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

OUT! Bit suicidal from Kohli to push for a risky second run, especially at a time when India are on the verge of defeat. Sharp throw by Elgar from cover and Rabada’s able to break the stumps with Bumrah well short. South Africa are two wickets away from victory now! IND 110/8

Bumrah run out (Elgar/Rabada) 0(5)

20:13 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 30 overs,India 110/7 ( Virat Kohli 60 , Jasprit Bumrah 0)

FOUR! Short from Burger and Kohli pulls this behind square, beating substitute fielder Tristan Stubbs who makes a quick dash from long leg in vain. He gets off strike right after with a single.

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

OUT! India are seven down now with a little over 100 on the board, and Kohli looks increasingly disappointed, losing out on batting partners at an alarming rate and being the only Indian to put up any semblance of a fight with the bat today. Thick leading edge off Thakur’s bat, and the ball lobs over to Bedingham at gully, who collects another catch in that region. IND 105/7

Thakur c Bedingham b Rabada 2(8)

20:02 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 28 overs,India 104/6 ( Virat Kohli 54 , Shardul Thakur 2)

Just one off Rabada’s ninth over, with Kohli collecting a single off the second delivery. Kohli’s on strike for the hat-trick ball at the start of the next over, and gets a brute of a bouncer from Burger that passes narrowly past his gloves, eliciting an unsuccessful caught-behind appeal. FOUR! Kohli brings up a hard-fought half-century with an on-drive through the gap between midwicket and mid on off a full delivery from Burger. DROPPED! Another chance goes begging in the slip region with Jansen putting down the chance after Thakur gets a thick top-edge while attempting to cut a short-of-length delivery outside off from Burger.

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Virat Kohli brings up his half-century with a stylish whip through the gap between midwicket and mid on off a full delivery from Burger. Has been an quality knock from the star batter so far, with Kohli consuming 61 deliveries to reach his fifty — his 30th in Tests. IND 101/6

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 26 overs,India 96/6 ( Virat Kohli 48 , Shardul Thakur 0)

OUCH! Kohli’s hit on the helmet grille off a snorter from Rabada, who’s trying to break the set batter’s focus. The South Africans will be eager to get his wicket knowing all too well how dangerous he can be once he gets set and converts a start into a big score. Nandre Burger replaces Jansen from the other end, and starts off his new spell with a double wicket-maiden, dismissing Rahul and Ashwin off successive deliveries. Not only is he on a hat-trick at the end of the over, the dismissals also have India staring at the prospect of suffering an innings defeat today. Only Virat Kohli can change that and ensure the game heads into the fourth day.

19:48 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

OUT! Two-in-two for Nandre Burger as Ashwin decides to poke at a length ball outside off, guiding the ball straight to Bedingham at gully! Bit of a brainfade from Ash given he had just arrived at the crease and could've left it alone. IND 96/6

Ashwin c Bedingham b Burger 0(1)

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

OUT! India have lost half their side now with less than 100 on board, and it's KL Rahul — the centurion from the first innings — who gets the marching orders after nicking a full delivery outside off straight to Aiden Markram at the slips! Burger strikes on his return to the attack! IND 96/5

Rahul c Markram b Burger 4(24)

19:42 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 24 overs,India 96/4 ( Virat Kohli 48 , KL Rahul 4)

Rabada returns to the attack, replacing Coetzee. Kohli collects a brace off his first delivery of the spell, guiding a length ball behind square and getting enough time to come back. Rabada shortens his length next up and Kohli guides it towards fine leg for a single. Rahul blocks his way through the remainder of the over. Jansen continues from the other end and concedes just a single.

19:29 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 22 overs,India 92/4 ( Virat Kohli 44 , KL Rahul 4)

FOUR! Make that two boundaries in Coetzee’s fifth over for Kohli, who clips the ball behind square leg after getting another full delivery, this time between middle and leg. He moves to 44 at run-a-ball, and will hope to convert this start into a big score. Jansen, who has been fairly expensive so far by conceding 35 in his first five overs, keeps it tidy in his sixth by bowling out a maiden. 

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Two boundaries in three deliveries for the Indians, with Kohli playing a crisp little on-drive off a full delivery from Coetzee that’s pitched between off and middle. IND 86/4

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 20 overs,India 82/4 ( Virat Kohli 34 , KL Rahul 4)

FOUR! Fine way for KL Rahul to get off the mark! Full delivery from Jansen outside off, and Rahul decides to unleash a drive through the cover region. India move past 80 at the end of the 20-over mark, and like South Africa, are batting with a hint of aggression despite losing four wickets.

19:19 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

“Following continuous medical assessments, it was determined there was too much of a risk of aggravating his injury had he gone out to bat at this stage of the game. The medical team are managing him to give him the best chance to bat should he be required in the 4th innings,” reads an official statement from Cricket South Africa on why Temba Bavuma did not walk out to bat today.

19:17 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

SIX! First maximum of the innings, and it comes off Kohli’s bat! Short and wide from Coetzee, and Kohli decides to play an uppercut, clearing the square boundary comfortably in the process!  IND 78/4

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 18 overs,India 72/4 ( Virat Kohli 28 , KL Rahul 0)

Kohli collects three off the very first delivery of the session, pushing a full delivery from Coetzee through extra cover to move to 21. Iyer, who had been dropped by Petersen at the stroke of tea, blocks his way through the remainder of the over. FOUR! Jansen steams in from the other end and Kohli tucks a full delivery angling down leg towards the square leg fence, collecting his fifth boundary. Kohli pushes the next ball down the ground and gets enough time to come back for a third as Coetzee gives the ball a chase. Jansen then gets rid of Iyer in the penultimate delivery, the batter getting an inside-edge onto the pad off a delivery that is angling in, redirecting it towards the off stump.

19:11 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

BOWLED! Jansen strikes in his first over after tea, and he does get rid of Shreyas Iyer in the end after the Indian No 5 had been dropped in the slips before the interval! Gets an inside edge onto the pad, with the ball deflecting onto the off stump. IND 72/4

Iyer b Jansen 6(12)

19:05 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

The bandana-sporting Gerald Coetzee starts off with the ball in hand as Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer resume the Indian innings on the other side of the tea interval, with the former on strike. Crucial session coming up, one that could very well decide the fate of the match. Meanwhile, it’s suddenly looking gloomy at Centurion right now with dark clouds starting to gather above the SuperSport Park.

18:45 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 16 overs,India 52/3 ( Virat Kohli 18 , Shreyas Iyer 6)

FOUR! Overpitched from Jansen along middle and leg and new batter Shreyas Iyer pounces on it promptly, flicking it towards the vacant square leg fence to open his account. DROPPED! Chance put down by Petersen at third slip after Iyer attempts to steer a full delivery outside off towards the third man fence. Iyer was perhaps looking to keep that along the ground with soft hands, but didn’t quite execute it as well and nearly paid the price with his wicket. Iyer helps him to a brace in the meantime.

With that, it’s TEA ON DAY 3 with India ending the second session 101 runs behind with seven wickets in hand. Once again they were off to a disastrous start with openers Rohit and Jaiswal departing for single-digit scores and Gill perishing just when he was starting to mount a fightback!

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 14 overs,India 52/3 (  , Virat Kohli 14)

FOUR! Full and wide from Jansen and Gill, who had been ruffled up by a short ball from Coetzee in the previous over, produces a luscious drive well past the fielder stationed at cover. Collects a second consecutive boundary with a similar shot next up despite a change of angle by Jansen, who bowls full and wide despite switching to round the wicket. The switch does work for Jansen in the end as he ends up breaching Gill’s defence in the final delivery of the over to break what was turning out to be a promising third-wicket partnership.

18:32 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

BOWLED! Jansen strikes just when Gill was starting to look dangerous, castling him with a full delivery aimed at the stumps. The Indian No 3 ends up missing the ball completely while going for a flick towards midwicket, and is on his way after hearing the death rattle. End of what was turning out to be a fine partnership. IND 52/3

Gill b Jansen 26(37)

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Third boundary for Kohli in two overs, this time working the ball towards the square leg region off Gerald Coetzee, who replaces Rabada in the attack. IND 44/2

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 12 overs,India 39/2 ( Shubman Gill 17 , Virat Kohli 8)

Five wides conceded by Rabada at the start of his sixth over after a steep bouncer sails over Kohli’s head, with the ball rolling away to the fence despite keeper Verreynne getting a bit of glove to it. Leg bye added to the Indian total in the next delivery. One left-arm quick replaces another with Marco Jansen coming in place of Nandre Burger, and he’s off to an expensive start, getting hit for two boundaries in a space of four deliveries by Kohli, who opens his account in the process. After producing a crisp straight drive off a full delivery, Kohli slashes a length ball outside off towards the vacant square fence. Couple of leg byes added to the Indian total in the penultimate delivery after a fumble by Coetzee in the slips following a deflection off Kohli’s thigh pad. Runs slowly starting to flow for the Indians now.

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Kohli opens his account in style with a crisp straight drive off Marco Jansen’s first delivery of the day! IND 33/2

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 10 overs,India 23/2 ( Shubman Gill 17 , Virat Kohli 0)

FOUR! Shot of the innings so far, with Gill producing a lovely straight down off a full delivery from Burger, collecting his fourth boundary in the process! Another 25 minutes left in the session, and both Gill and Kohli will hope to preserve their wickets till then.

18:13 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 9 overs,India 19/2 ( Shubman Gill 13 , Virat Kohli 0)

Maiden for Rabada, his second in the five overs that he’s bowled so far today. Kohli, who’s yet to get off the mark after 10 deliveries, attempts to collect a single in the fourth delivery only for Gill to send him back.

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 8 overs,India 19/2 ( Shubman Gill 13 , Virat Kohli 0)

Just one off Burger’s third over, with the left-arm quick conceding a wide in the final delivery that is collected at first slip.

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 7 overs,India 18/2 ( Shubman Gill 13 , Virat Kohli 0)

FOUR! Streaky boundary for Gill, but the Indians will take the runs however they come. Gill gets a thick outside edge off a short-of-length delivery from Rabada, resulting in the ball flying past gully and all the way to the fence. He gets off strike with a single four deliveries later. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, joins Gill at the crease with the Indians once again off to a forgettable start.

17:57 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 6 overs,India 13/2 ( Shubman Gill 8 , Virat Kohli 0)

Burger gets Jaiswal caught-behind for a second time in this Test — only this time he bounces the southpaw out! India in deep trouble now with both of their openers back in the hut inside the first six overs of the innings, falling to the very bowlers who had dismissed them in the first innings. "Smell the leather" kind of delivery from the left-arm pacer that is bowled close to the body, and Jaiswal ends up getting a deflection off his glove while looking to fend it. Wicket maiden for Burger.

Jaiswal c Verreynne b Burger 5(18)

17:54 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 5 overs,India 13/1 ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 5 , Shubman Gill 8)

FOUR! What a way for Shubman Gill to get off the mark, going for a short-arm pull off a short-of-length delivery from Rabada in the fifth over. FOUR! Make that two boundaries in three deliveries for Gill as he flicks a length ball from KG through the midwicket region. Eight off the over.

17:53 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 4 overs,India 5/1 ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 5 , Shubman Gill 0)

Maiden to Burger in his second over as Jaiswal blocks his way through. India will be hoping for the two youngsters to forge a solid partnership and get India out of the hole that they find themselves in at the moment.

17:42 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 3 overs,India 5/1 ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 5 , Shubman Gill 0)

BOWLED! Seventh time KG Rabada’s got rid of Rohit Sharma in Tests! And it’s a peach of a delivery from the leader of the South African attack to get rid of the Indian captain, with a full delivery jagging away after pitching along middle, beating Rohit’s outside edge along the way and hitting the off pole. Quite similar to delivery from Bumrah that got him dismissed right after lunch. IND 5/1

Rohit b Rabada 0(8)

17:37 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 2 overs,India 5/0 ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 5 , Rohit Sharma (c) 0)

FOUR! First boundary of the innings, with Jaiswal going for a firm cut off a length ball outside off from Nandre Burger, who shares the new ball with Rabada.

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India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 1 over,India 1/0 ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 1 , Rohit Sharma (c) 0)

DROPPED! Jaiswal nearly perishes off the first delivery in the second innings, nicking a full wide delivery towards the slips where Aiden Markram standing at second slip dives to his right, but is unable to latch on to the ball. The southpaw opens the team’s account with a single off the third delivery.  Rohit blocks his way through the remaining deliveries of the over.

17:33 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal make their way out to the centre for a second time in three days, the pair hoping to get India off to a strong start this time after perishing early on Tuesday morning. Having conceded a first innings lead of 163, a solid start will be crucial if the Indians are to take this contest to the distance and pull off a victory, the prospect of which looks mighty difficult given the position that they find themselves in at the moment.

Kagiso Rabada to bowl the first over of the Indian innings.

17:22 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 108.4 overs,South Africa 408 ( Marco Jansen 83 , )

BOWLED! Jasprit Bumrah castles Nandre Burger for a 20-ball duck. With Temba Bavuma not walking out to bat after failing to recover from his hamstring injury, that will be it as far as South Africa’s innings is concerned! Bumrah breaches Burger’s defence with a fiery yorker, the batter shaping for a drive but getting nowhere close to the line of the delivery.

South Africa are bowled out for 408, collecting a handsome 163-run first innings lead after bowling India out for 245. It already looks like the Proteas’ game to lose from here.

Burger b Bumrah 0(20)

17:16 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 108 overs,South Africa 407/8 ( Marco Jansen 83 , Nandre Burger 0)

The Indians appeal for a caught-behind against Jansen after the latter attempts to hook a bouncer from Bumrah. Rahul shakes his head when the Indians discuss the possibility of going for the review. Replays show the ball to be skimming Jansen’s helmet. FOUR! Solid response from Jansen in the very next ball as he clears his front leg and drills a near-yorker from Bumrah straight down the ground to collect his 11th four and move into the 80s! Spin from the other end, with Ashwin replacing Siraj and starting his new spell with a maiden.

17:11 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 106 overs,South Africa 403/8 ( Marco Jansen 79 , Nandre Burger 0)

Just one run collected in each of the last two overs, both Bumrah and Siraj testing the two batters with the occasional bouncer that the batters opt to duck. Meanwhile, still no sign of a padded-up Bavuma in the dressing room, meanwhile, the Proteas might just be one wicket away from getting bundled out.

17:01 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 104 overs,South Africa 401/8 ( Marco Jansen 77 , Nandre Burger 0)

Jansen collects a boundary off Bumrah to bring up the 400 for the Proteas. Siraj replaces Prasidh from the other end and starts off a new spell with a maiden, with new batter Nandre Burger yet to get off the mark after facing seven deliveries.

16:57 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

FOUR! Jansen brings up the 400 for the Proteas with a lovely drive through extra cover off Bumrah! Was a length delivery from Bumrah outside off, and Jansen timed it beautifully, giving the Indian fielders little chance of stopping it. SA 401/8

16:54 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

After 102 overs,South Africa 397/8 ( Marco Jansen 73 , Nandre Burger 0)

Bumrah starts off with a wicket maiden after lunch. Prasidh, meanwhile, replaces Ashwin from the other. Five runs added to the Proteas total in this over, including four leg byes off the first delivery after a full delivery drifting down leg brushes Jansen’s pad before running away to fine leg.

16:49 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE Score

BOWLED! Jasprit Bumrah strikes right after lunch, getting rid of Rabada with a beauty! The ball straightens after pitching along off with the seam pointing towards the slips, beating Rabada’s outside edge and sending the off stump on a cartwheel! Excellent start to the session for the Indians. SA 392/8

Rabada b Bumrah 1(9)