# Simon Harmer has taken four wickets in an innings for the first time in consecutive Tests – 4 for 61 at Mohali and 4 for 78 at Nagpur – both vs India. In this match, all 12 South African dismissals are taken by Indian Spinners.
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India were earlier dismissed in the post-tea session, opener Murali Vijay top-scoring with 40 when the hosts won the toss and elected to bat on a dry, dusty pitch at the VCA stadium.
In the space of 15 overs after lunch India lost four wickets for the addition of only 31 runs after being 95 for two, Morkel and Harmer doing the damage.
India, however, stretched their overall lead to 309 and that meant the visitors were left with a steep mountain to climb.
Morkel came back for his second spell by changing ends to trap the opener bang in front with a full length ball that kept a bit low and struck the pads as the batsman tentatively pushed forward. The lost eight wickets for 68 runs, and in the process, Ashwin registered his 14th five-wicket haul.
The Indian batsmen were not afraid to charge Harmer, but he also thwarted them by varying the trajectory of the ball. Cheteshwar Pujara (21) and skipper Virat Kohli (22) got decent starts only to throw them away. The ball, however, hit the inside part of the bat and looped off towards the bowler, who completed a sharp caught and bowled chance.
“It was a little bit slow early on and it was hard to adjust to the pace”, Harmer said.
Pujara looked in good touch by hitting Kagiso Rabada andDuminy for fours in successive deliveries before the latterdeceived him with an arm ball that crashed into the off stumpas the batsman played for the turn.
At the end of the days play, South Africa have scored 32 runs for the loss of two wickets in their second innings, after being asked to chase 309 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja celebrating the dismissal of AB de Villiers in the first innings on day two of the third Test in Nagpur.
But India batting coach Sanjay Bangar felt the batsmen applied themselves well, and the Saha-Jadeja stand could prove decisive. “Saha has loads of runs in first-class cricket, and is someone who is developing really well”.
Mishra and Sharma replaced all-rounder Stuart Binny and fast bowler Varun Aaron. Morkel had Rohit caught at long-on, which was followed by Tahir cleaning up Ishant Sharma for his second five-for in the series.
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# Jadeja and Saha put on 48 – India’s second highest partnership vs South Africa for the seventh wicket at Jamtha, Nagpur behind the 50 between Saha and Harbhajan Singh in February 2010. He took over the role as senior bowler from Dale Steyn who was ruled out due to a groin injury and he produced a Steyn-like performance before he hobbled off the field with a leg injury in his 17th over.
