A direct-hit run-out of Graeme Smith ended a century opening partnership as South Africa fought to stave off defeat on the fourth day of the first Test against India at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.
Set to make an improbable 458 to win, South Africa were 138-2 at the close.
“We are very happy to have got two wickets,” said Indian top-scorer Cheteshwar Pujara who made 153. “The wicket has variable bounce and the cracks are opening up so we are expecting more movement tomorrow. Conditions will be more difficult for batting."
South Africa had reached 108 without loss with both Smith and Alviro Petersen batting with increasing confidence. But Smith, on 44, went for a risky single after he punched a ball from Ravichandran Ashwin to mid-on.
Ajinkya Rahane fielded superbly and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end, to the acclaim of his teammates.
Smith’s dismissal was soon followed by that of Hashim Amla, who was bowled for the second time in the match without playing a shot. Amla made four before ducking a short-pitched delivery from Mohammed Shami which kept low, going over Amla’s right shoulder before hitting the top of his off stump.
The ball which accounted for Amla was one of several which kept low at the Golf Course End of the pitch. Petersen, who scored a half-century in his team’s second innings for the first time in 27 Tests, made 76 not out and saw out the day with Faf du Plessis (10).
With the light fading towards the close, the umpires told Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni that he would have to use only slow bowlers if he wanted play to continue.
Dhoni took off his wicketkeeping pads and bowled two overs in partnership with off-spinner Ashwin. India were bowled out for 421 in their second innings, leaving South Africa to negotiate 45 overs before the close of play as well as the whole of the fifth day.
Pujara and Virat Kohli took their third wicket stand to 222 before Pujara was caught behind off Jacques Kallis for 153. Kohli fell four short of his second century of the match.
He made 96 before he was caught behind, cutting at off-spinner JP Duminy. Pujara said the batsmen had been determined to do well in South Africa.
“There was too much talk about this tour, about Indian batsmen not doing well overseas. Everyone took responsibility and we did it as a unit.”
The South African bowlers, who had endured a torrid third afternoon at the hands of Pujara and Kohli, came back strongly despite being without the injured Morne Morkel.
India lost four wickets while scoring 74 runs in 28.2 overs before lunch. At that stage India were 394 ahead but Dhoni decided not to declare and the innings continued until mid-afternoon.
