IND vs SA, 3rd Test, Day 2: Bad Light Stops Play After India Reduce South Africa to 9/2

At stumps, skipper Faf du Plessis was batting on 1 and was accompanied with Zubayr Hamza who is yet to open his account. The visitors trail by 488 runs

The stubborn Ranchi weather once again played the spoilsport as the third session of the second day of the third Test was called off due to bad light. In reply to India’s 497, South Africa were reduced to 9/2 in five overs, before the on-field umpires decided to stop the play for the rest of the day. Skipper Faf du Plessis was batting on 1 and was accompanied with Zubayr Hamza who is yet to open his account. The visitors still trail by 488 runs. After declaring the innings at 497/9 at the brink of tea, the hosts continued mauling the Proteas with the ball. Both the South African openers—Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock—were back to the dressing within the first two overs. Mohammed Shami drew the first blood, removing Elgar on a 2-ball duck right in the first over of the South African innings. Umesh came next into the attack and got the hold De Kock (4) who was promoted up the order for the first time in the ongoing series. A total of 5 overs were bowled after the umpires were forced to call off the play due to bad light. Earlier, Rohit Sharma struck his maiden double century in Test cricket while Ravindra Jadeja scored a fifty. Umesh Yadav’s cameo thereafter aided India to declare at 497/9 when tea was called. In the first session, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane notched up his 11th hundred to snap a lengthy lean patch of three years without one at home. India were 224/3 when play started on the second day and Rohit and Rahane milked the bowlers to the boundary fence with relative ease. In came Jadeja at No. 6 and joined Rohit who moved to the 190s from 150 in no time as the visiting team bowlers seemed to lack the firepower to maul the marauding Indian opener who also hit a six to get to his century on Day 1. Jadeja extended his purple patch with the bat with a second consecutive fifty but fell just after achieving the landmark, caught behind off Linde for 51 off 119 deliveries, his knock studded with four fours. Stumper Wriddhiman Saha (24) was castled by Linde while Ravichandran Ashwin managed 14 before Umesh plundered five sixes in his entertaining cameo to take the total close to 500. Umesh was finally removed by Linde who was hit big by the pacer as he skied the ball for 'keeper Klaasen to complete the catch. Debutant Shahbaz Nadeem (1 not out) and Mohammed Shami (10 not out) were at the crease when Virat Kohli called them off the field.