Johannesburg, Jan 5 (UNI) Kagiso Rabada's three-wicket haul tilted the match towards South Africa, reducing India to 188/6 at lunch on Day 3 of the second Test here at the Wanderers stadium on Wednesday.
India scored 103 runs in the first session before losing four crucial wickets. The visitors dominated the first hour of play but soon Rabada turned the tables in favour of South Africa.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane batted with lot of quality and intent. The top-order batters took the South African attack for back-to-back boundaries and brought up their fifties. The duo ended their struggle with form but failed to convert their fifties into big scores.
Rabada got the much-needed breakthrough as he removed Rahane (58) with a peach of the delivery. The ball nipped off from the back of a length, got the outside edge of Rahane and Kyle Verreynne took an easy catch behind the stumps. Although the umpire took a while to get his finger up, there was no doubt in the minds of South Africa that they had pulled one back.
Rahane's departure also ended a 100-run partnership with Pujara for the third wicket. Soon, Rabada struck again and got another set batter - Pujara (53). The ball nipped back and crashed into Pujara's pads, leading the umpire to raise his finger. The right-hander walked back to the pavilion but not before reviewing the decision.
Rabada got his third wicket as he dismissed Rishabh Pant on a duck. The wicketkeeper-batter went for the wild slog but got the outside edge and Verreynne took an easy catch behind stumps.
Pant's dismissal led to former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar fuming in the commentary box. It was a careless shot from Pant. His wicket brought South Africa back into the game.
Hanuma Vihari (6 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin, the two new batters in the middle, tried to rebuild the innings but Lungi Ngidi denied them as he got Ashwin for 16. Ngidi angled down the leg stump and Ashwin got the fine edge, leading to another easy catch for Verreynne behind stumps.
UNI PN