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South Africa need 159 to win vs India after tea following Faf du Plessis-Hashim Amla fightback in 3rd Test

India however need just 4 more wickets to win the match and clinch series.

Hashim Amla (Left) and Faf du Plessis put on a steady 72-run stand for the 6th wicket © AFP
Hashim Amla (Left) and Faf du Plessis put on a steady 72-run stand for the 6th wicket © AFP

South Africa go to tea on 151 for 6 on Day 3 of the 3rd Test against India at Nagpur. They still need 159 more runs to win in the post-tea session. India on the other hand need just 4 more wickets to win the match and the series.  Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis put on 72 runs for the 6th wicket, which has given South Africa a chance to win the match from here. Hashim Amla was caught at slip for 39 off the bowling of Amit Mishra.  Mishra then removed du Plessis finally managing to break his defence for 39. With two new batsmen at the crease, South Africa will now find it difficult to knock off the remaining runs. JP Duminy played extremely well in the first innings and will hope that Dane Vilas can provide him good support. Full cricket Scorecard: India vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 3

South Africa started the session at 105 for 4. The du Plessis-Amla partnership was frustrating the Indian bowlers but they were boosted with 15 minutes to go to tea with a double break. South Africa had lost Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers in the first session. Elgar started the day with Amla at 32 for 2. Nobody gave South Africa a chance to win the match, but they have put up a good fight so far and will look to fight on after tea as well. Only 3 wickets separate India from a win and clinching the series 2-0. It has been a series that India has dominated and perhaps deserve to win as well. Live Cricket Update India vs South Africa 2015, 3rd Test at Nagpur, Day 3

India had won the toss and elected to bat first. They made 215 in their first innings, with Murali Vijay top scoring with 40. He and Shikhar Dhawan put on 50 for the opening wicket. India underwent a collapse, but the 48-run stand between Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja ensured that India went past 200. South Africa in reply were bowled out for 79, which is a team’s lowest score against India. India established a 166-run lead and made a further 173 in their second innings. For South Africa Imran Tahir was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 5 wickets. South Africa were therefore set a target of 310 in the fourth innings.

Both India and South Africa made a change or two in their playing XI. Stuart Binny was dropped to the bench and leg-spinner Amit Mishra was preferred ahead of him. Rohit Sharma too was picked in the side following his impressive show in the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 season ahead of fasr bowler Varun Aaron.

Brief scores:

India 215  (Murali Vijay 40, Wriddhiman Saha 32, Ravindra Jadeja 34; Morne Morkel 3 for 35, Simon Harmer 4 for 78) & 173 (Shikhar Dhawan 39, Cheteshwar Pujara 31; Morne Morkel 3 for 19, Imran Tahir 5 for 38) lead South Africa 79 (JP Duminy, Simon Harmer 13; Ravichandran Ashwin 5 for 32, Ravindra Jadeja 4 for 33) & 151 for 6 (Hashim Amla 39, Faf du Plessis 39; Ravichandran Ashwin 3 for 50, Amit Mishra 3 or 40) by 158 runs.

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(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)

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