Faf du Plessis is the last specialist batsman for South Africa after another batting collapse at the hands of the Indians on day three of the 2nd Test, writes Ongama Gcwabe.
Senuran Muthusamy has joined his captain in the middle.
The task of getting 402 runs to avoid being asked to follow on heavily relies on this partnership.
The Proteas resumed on 36-3 on day 3 with Theunis de Bruyn (20*) and nightwatchman Anrich Nortje (2*) at the crease.
Their partnership was broken by Mohammed Shami in the third over of the day when he found the edge off Nortje’s bat to Virat Kohli at fourth slip.
Umesh Yadav and Shami have been consistently hitting that off-stump to fourth-stump line at a good length and they have been rewarded for their efforts.
Yadav got his third wicket with an away swinger to De Bruyn which he edged to keeper Wriddhiman Saha.
De Kock (31 off 48 balls, 7 × 4) was bowled by an absolute ripper from Ravichandran Ashwin late on session one. The ball came off a good length, turned sweetly and kissed the bails to give the Indians another breakthrough and extend their control.
At Lunch, Du Plessis was on 52* off 76 deliveries with 8 × 4’s and 1 × 6 and Muthusamy finished on 6* off 12 deliveries.
The Proteas went into the beak on 136-6 after 42 overs.
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