Marco Jansen’s superb all-round performance has placed the Proteas in prime position to seal a first Test series win on Indian soil in 25 years.
Jansen scored 93 to lift the Proteas to 489 before delivering a sensational spell with the ball on the third day. The lanky seamer charged in throughout the day, testing the Indian batters with the short ball, and reaped the rewards with figures of 6/48 to dismiss India for 201.
Jansen was helped by the brilliant catching of Aiden Markram, who pouched five catches during India’s innings.
It was Jansen’s fourth five-wicket haul and first ‘Michelle’ on the subcontinent. It was also only the fourth time a Proteas has claimed five wickets in an innings in India.
India were left trailing by a mammoth 288 runs with off-spinner Simon Harmer also claiming 3/64. Harmer has 15 wickets in the series and is in prime position for the Player of the Series award.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma resisted the temptation to enforce the follow-on after consultation with coach Shukri Conrad, which meant openers Markram and Ryan Rickelton were out in the middle again.
The opening pair cemented the Proteas’ commanding position by getting through unscathed when stumps were called early for the third successive day to bad light.
They will look to continue their run-making on Tuesday to bat India completely out of the Test before pushing for the victory.
SCOREBOARD
2nd Test, Day 3, Stumps
South Africa: 489 all out & 26/0 (Rickelton 13*, Markram 12*)
India: 201 all out (Jaiswal 58, Sundar 48, Jansen 6/48, Harmer 3/64)
South Africa leads by 314 runs
