The South African tail-enders put up a superb effort on the third day of the ongoing Pune Test. As the top order slumped against India’s first-innings score of 601, Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander came into rescue with a 109-run partnership for the 9th wicket.

The duo made the hosts toil extremely hard as they together faced 259 deliveries before Maharaj lost his wicket to Ravichandran Ashwin on 72. After the day’s play when the Indian off-spinner was asked about getting frustrated by the way the Proteas duo fought, he said,

“I do not get frustrated. I do not want to get frustrated either because I am happy to be bowling again and whosoever bat against me, I am happy to keep bowling at them. So, I was not frustrated at all,” Ashwin said in the post-match press conference.

Ashwin finished with best innings figures of 4/69 including the wickets of Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis who scored 64, Quinton e Kock (31) and Kagiso Rabada (2) in the end. He said that this South African team can bat till number 11.

“One of the biggest problems with this South African team is that they bat till number 11. You have to bowl them like you are bowling the top order,” he said.

The 33-year-old bowler also praised Philander, who played an unbeaten knock of 44 runs off 192 balls.

“Philander batted beautifully. His technique towards the spin to defence and towards the fast bowling was wonderful. He played with soft hands. I think the myth of tail-ender is overstated. When a batsman bats well, he bats well,” Ashwin said.

India, who are still on a 326-run lead, will start their second innings on day four on Sunday.