South Africa reach 118/2 at close of Day 3 needing 122 more runs to beat India at the Wanderers

[MP2011]

Time for Ashwin to pay back for his lack of wickets in this test.

[Advaith]

Worst possible scenario for India ..loose the match and go with same batting line up next match

[MP2011]

This is a decisive momentum shift towards SA.

[Ashmal]

This is a decisive momentum shift towards SA.

Nah...Indian bowlers are good enough to defend 180-200 here

[Rana]

Pant could care less

[MP2011]

3/30 in last 10 overs.

[MP2011]

Nah...Indian bowlers are good enough to defend 180-200 here

Don't think we'll reach there.

[Varun]

Pant will end up with a worse average than even Dhoni.

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Pant will end up with a worse average than even Dhoni.

But you said attack is the best form of defense.

[Varun]

But you said attack is the best form of defense.

He doesn't attack. He hacks.

[MP2011]

"What I wouldn't give to know what exactly went through Dravid's mind when Pant did what he did."

lol.

[Varun]

"What I wouldn't give to know what exactly went through Dravid's mind when Pant did what he did."

lol.

He won't tolerate a hack like that in the test team for long.

[MP2011]

He won't tolerate a hack like that in the test team for long.

And then he has gall to miss home tests against NZ. I mean who does he think he has become?

[MP2011]

Lead is 152 now.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Selectors should not get into this trap by Pujara and Rahane. They should kick them forever from Indian test team. Their habit of playing one good inning to prolong their career has been found out.

[MP2011]

Ashwin gone just before lunch interval.

[MP2011]

Selectors should not get into this trap by Pujara and Rahane. They should kick them forever from Indian test team. Their habbit of playing one good inning to prolong their career has been found out.

Agreed. However this is not that'll happen.

[MP2011]

Thakur is in. Need at least a 30 from him.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

"What I wouldn't give to know what exactly went through Dravid's mind when Pant did what he did."

lol.

Pant is doing exactly what I have always been saying about him for the past few years. He loves to gift his wicket away to opposition and a cookies to his fans to defend him everytime he plays like that.

[Thanos]

Ashwin also gifted his wicket after Pant. That was a nothing ball.

[Thanos]

Thakur will not survive for long. He plays every ball. Bounce will get him

[Nikhil_cric]

Playing ashwin was a mistake like I said. We needed the extra batsman. The pitch today was not that tough but thos was poor batting after puj/rahane.

[MP2011]

Thats lunch.

[MP2011]

We needed the extra batsman.

Correction: We need better batsmen not extra batsman. Playing duds like Pujara, Pant, Vihari and Rahane won't take you anywhere.

[jusarrived]

Playing ashwin was a mistake like I said. We needed the extra batsman. The pitch today was not that tough but thos was poor batting after puj/rahane.

Hes done as well as our top order batsmen, I doubt iyer would have scored more runs here

[JibranAnsari]

India already have enough. SA cant chase anything above 150.

[Thanos]

Pant is doing exactly what I have always been saying about him for the past few years. He loves to gift his wicket away to opposition and a cookies to his fans to defend him everytime he plays like that.

You lose more matches than win because of hack players. Afridi did that. Pant following the same.

[Romali_rotti]

Another 60 more runs and this game is in the kitty for the Indians...

However the game is in the balance currently.

[MenInG]

RSA 229
IND 202 & 188/6 (44) CRR: 4.27
Day 3: Lunch Break - India lead by 161 runs

[Devadwal]

South Africa game to lose now .pant and Ashwin throw their wickets by playing pathetic shot

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

You lose more matches than win because of hack players. Afridi did that. Pant following the same.

You are right now. And I was right too at that time.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Don't think Africa can chase this but they have all the time in the world to plan and chase it slowly.

[Nikhil_cric]

Correction: We need better batsmen not extra batsman. Playing duds like Pujara, Pant, Vihari and Rahane won't take you anywhere.

That is another issue. But given the squad, there us bo need for a spinner on the Highveldt where spinners struggle.

[MP2011]

That is another issue. But given the squad, there us bo need for a spinner on the Highveldt where spinners struggle.

Spinners do struggle here. However Ashwin made a great contribution with bat in the first innings which an extra bat may not have made.

That's why instead of having an extra bat, we need these guys to take more responsibility with bat and start scoring some runs which their primary discipline mandates them to do.

[Bull]

I understand Indians frustration regarding rahane and pujara but these guys seem to play match winning innings every now and then.
Both of them have played match winning knocks here.

[Varun]

I understand Indians frustration regarding rahane and pujara but these guys seem to play match winning innings every now and then.
Both of them have played match winning knocks here.

"Career saving 55s"

[sam_ahm]

Proteas team of the past with Hashim, AB, Smith, Kallis and JP this was an easy run chase, but with this batting I don't think they can chase anything over 200 and I'm someone who follows this team very closely and am a big fan of South African cricket.

They've got some really good players in domestic set up but the current lot has some serious loopholes. I don't think Markram, Bavuma, Rassie are good enough. I may look foolish here because Bavuma has had a good series but 1 century in 46 games is enough to convince me that he is not good enough.

Rassie is a LOI player. I have my doubts on Keegan as well but he has looked good and is another lad who has worked really hard at domestic level to reach here.

Verreynne is a serious talent and will come through. Janneman eventually will break into this team, Hamza and Rickelton can also get in, Hamza more likely and has the best chance as he is colored.

Rossouw can also be given a look in, it depends on selectors see him after his Kolpak stint. They've accepted Olivier and Parnell though, so why not Rossouw.

[Devadwal]

Don't think Africa can chase this but they have all the time in the world to plan and chase it slowly.

Elgar , Keegan and Bavuma can chase anything under 200 .

[Devadwal]

This is clear biased mpiring as they not giving any wide ball over head .but plenty give during when india bowled . atleast 10 runs india missed due to this

[Devadwal]

Thakur won't last more than 2 over

[Devadwal]

India lead by 174 runs ,can they add another 30-40 runs ?

[Devadwal]

Vihari is not scoring any runs , playing tuk tuk game .

[RamLakhan]

Thakur is on a mission again!

[CrIc_Mystique]

Gee Whiz Lord Beefy is biffing them around....
Some more of this plz...go shardul

[Varun]

This game has a Thakur MoTM written all over it.

[MP2011]

This is MoM worthy performance from Thakur. What great hitting!

[CrIc_Mystique]

lead of 200 now...go lads! and the ball goes out of shape - lord is lording it!!!

[MP2011]

Yeh test humko dede Thakur!

[RamLakhan]

This is actually a very good score for a 50 over game in 70s & 80s on this pitch...

[Unbiased-Fan]

Thakur will not survive for long. He plays every ball. Bounce will get him

Another masterclass by Thakur ji👌👌
28*(23), lead now close to 200.

[jiduguravindra]

Vihari is not scoring any runs , playing tuk tuk game .

No need for him to through bat around, he needs to hold one end up.

[MP2011]

Thakur has hit the ball so hard that it has gone out of shape.

[silentkiller187]

Thakur gone, enjoyed watching his batting today good player

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

What a performer this Thakur is.

[MP2011]

Thakur gone.

[Devadwal]

This game has a Thakur MoTM written all over it.

You jinx again

[CrIc_Mystique]

ball change brought about wkt....well played lord beefy ...after this performance, he is the first name on the team list.

[MP2011]

Need to give SA a target score of at least what they scored in their first innings.

[Thanos]

Our players get carried away easily.
Also what Vihari was doing from non-strike end. Couldn't go and tell Thakur to ease down after scoring more than 15 in that over.

[Devadwal]

Vihari don't know how to Play with tails ,who take single on first ball of the over.

[CrIc_Mystique]

if the last 3 guys can get even 15 each, that will be awesome.
But vihari has to change gears and has to farm the strike now.
this will be a test of his mettle as well.

[MP2011]

Vihari gotta take lead now and bat like a specialist batsman.

[gani999]

Selectors should not get into this trap by Pujara and Rahane. They should kick them forever from Indian test team. Their habit of playing one good inning to prolong their career has been found out.

Well, they've both scored fifties here. So they'll be around for some time to come

[Unbiased-Fan]

Kagiso Rabada is helping Indians by giving too many extras. 30 extras till now. These extras will definitely help us.

[sam_ahm]

Thakur has changed it with the bat as well, came in at a tricky situation and played a crucial knock

[MP2011]

So far Vihari has proved to be a very timid cricketer. Can he change that perception today?

[Unbiased-Fan]

Kagiso Rabada is helping Indians by giving too many extras. 30 extras till now. These extras will definitely help us.

Extras are 3rd highest score in this innings after Rahane and Pujara.

[sam_ahm]

Shardul Thakur to India is what Andy Bichel was to Australia of 00s.

[MP2011]

Shami gone.

[Devadwal]

Lol

[Unbiased-Fan]

Shami gone.. Vihari needs to accelerate now.

[Varun]

So what exactly is Vihari's plan here?

[MP2011]

So what exactly is Vihari's plan here?

I told you, he isn't good enough for this level.

[RamLakhan]

Vihari don't know how to Play with tails ,who take single on first ball of the over.

First he has to learn how to play for himself, forget playing with tail...

[gani999]

So far Vihari has proved to be a very timid cricketer. Can he change that perception today?

He was playing slowly, keeping one side up while the other end went for shots. He will have to open up now and protect the tail.
Shami already out as I type.

[CrIc_Mystique]

vihari really needs to stamp his presence now. max runs on first 4, take singles on 4th and fifth.
Hope jazz boom gets a 25, now that would be handy.
By the way, - whats Siraj's status - can dude bowl?

[Romali_rotti]

What the hell is Vihari doing ?? stop scratching your rear end and start swinging SON

[Unbiased-Fan]

So what exactly is Vihari's plan here?

He want others to score quickly. He will play defensive till Bumrah's wicket. After that he may score fast.

[Devadwal]

So what exactly is Vihari's plan here?

Laxman was a great player when play with tailender

[Thanos]

Goodness me. Can't these guys be told not to put bat on balls going down on thighs.
Considering the bounce.