India moved to 357-4 at lunch on day two of the third and final Test against the Proteas at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
Resuming on 224-3 overnight, the hosts added 133 runs through Sunday’s opening session, as opening batsman Rohit Sharma neared a double-century.
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He is currently on 199 not out, which has featured 28 fours and a quartet of sixes. If he reaches 200, India will welcome a third double-centurion this series. Opener Mayank Agarwal struck one in the series opener in Visakhapatnam – and captain Virat Kohli another during the second Test in Pune.
Debutant George Linde has taken the only wicket on Sunday. He ended a dominant 267-run partnership, when centurion Ajinkya Rahane was caught by wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen. Rahane would have departed earlier, had Klaasen not missed a relatively straightforward stumping off the bowling of spinner Dane Piedt.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje was afforded the second new ball ahead of the more experienced Lungi Ngidi, but proved ineffective.
The home side boast an unassailable 2-0 series lead after comfortable victories in Visakhapatnam and Pune.
India: Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), George Linde, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.
Photo: Gallo Images
