India have set South Africa a target of 310 for an unlikely victory in the third Test in Nagpur after being bowled out for 173.
Imran Tahir, after waiting 24 overs before being given a chance to bowl by captain Hashim Amla, claimed 5-38 in 11.3 overs and questions will be asked about why he wasn’t used earlier in the innings.
That might all be irrelevant for now as South Africa try to reach 310 on a wicket which has been described as a nightmare to bat on.
Neither team has scored more than 215 in the whole series so far.
The biggest talking point has been the condition of the pitch, which has come in for fierce criticism on social media. It’s a debate which will go on for the rest of the series and will most probably define it once the dust has settled.
Tahir took three wickets in 11 balls after he first came on. Shikhar Dhawan was caught behind trying to reverse sweep, Virat Kohli was caught by Faf du Plessis for 16 and JP Duminy took a good catch to get rid of Ajinkya Rahane for nine.
Wriddhiman Saha was caught for seven by Amla after the ball came off Dane Vilas’s foot after the batsman tried to play an unorthodox sweep.
Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra got bowled by Simon Harmer and Tahir respectively while Morne Morkel (3-19) got rid of Rohit Sharma (23) and Ravi Ashwin (7).
Morkel also got the early breakthrough when Murali Vijay nicked a wide delivery behind for five. Cheteshwar Pujara was bowled by JP Duminy for 31 before Tahir was finally introduced to the attack.
Picture: Associated Press
