Ashwin picks up five wickets, Pujara scores 63 no as India take 142 runs lead against SA
Cheteshwar Pujara (63*) and Virat Kohli (11*) remained unbeaten till the end of the day's play while India lost the wickets of both openers Murali Vijay (47) and Shikhar Dhawan (0) to finish the proceedings at 125 for 2.
Imran Tahir and Vernon Philander picked up a wicket each for the visitors.
Pujara hit six boundaries and a six in his 100-ball knock while he added 86 runs in the second wicket partnership with Vijay.
The Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra bowled immaculate lines to dent the Proteas batting line up as South Africa was bowled out for 184 runs, on the second day of the first Test match, here on Friday.
India managed a slender lead of 17 runs.
Commencing on their overnight score of 28 for the loss of 2 wickets, South Africa played with patience to post a 76-run partnership for the third wicket before Ashwin removed Dean Elgar (37). The offie added four more to his kitty this morning to finish with 5 wickets giving away 51 runs while bowling 5 maiden overs in the 24 overs he delivered.
Playing the perfect foil for Ashwin was Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra, who picked up 3 and 2 wickets respectively to share all 10 wickets among the trio.
While Mishra removed the South African big gun AB de Villiers for 63, Jadeja accounted for Philander (3) and Dale Steyn (6). The Indian pacers bowled cheap spells but without any success.
South African captain Hashim Amla scored a patient 43 before Ashwin had him stumped.
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