South Africa: India lost three wickets in quick succession in the second session on Day 4 of the Centurion Test. Captain Virat Kohli (18) was removed in the first delivery by Marco Jansen, who also picked the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane (20). Cheteshwar Pujara also returned to the pavilion after being caught behind while trying to nudge a delivery going down the leg stump. Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin are the new men in the middle.
The visitors had reached 79/3 at Lunch, extending their lead by 200 runs. Nightwatchman Shardul Thakur (10) and KL Rahul (23) were the batters dismissed in the opening session. The second session will be important for both sides as it will shape the way the contest is heading. India had resumed Day 4 from the overnight score of 16/1 and was ahead of South Africa by 146 runs at that moment.
Meanwhile, under clear skies, 18 wickets fell on Day 3 as India were folded for 327 in their first inning. South Africa in response could only manage 197, handing India a 130-run advantage. The entire second day of the test was lost to rain but the match had still progressed rapidly at Centurion after an extended third day to make up the time and overs lost to the weather. At the end of it, India was in a position for a series lead that might give the top-ranked test team the impetus for a long-awaited first test series win in South Africa.