3rd Test, India vs SA: Play to resume on day four after pitch row

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Johannesburg, January 26: After some tense and uncertain moments, it has been decided that the third Test between India and South Africa will resume on the fourth day on Saturday (January 27).

The match officials had called off the third day's play after a short delivery from Jasprit Bumrah pinged South Africa opener Dean Elgar on the helmet at the Wanderers on Friday (January 26). At that time, South Africa were 17 for 1 in 8.3 overs chasing 241 for a series clean sweep on a challenging strip. Hashim Amla was the other batsman at the crease.

The decision to resume the play had a touch of inevitability about it after both the sides expressed their willingness in the post day press do to resume play if the match officials decided so.

The play was halted by umpires nine minutes ahead of the scheduled close as the umpires cited a dangerous pitch with uneven bounce. That followed a discussion between captains Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and match referee Andy Pycroft.

It was then decided to continue the match at the scheduled time on Saturday.

Before the events unfurled, India gradually tightened their grip on the match through a gutsy batting display on a difficult wicket.

In the first session, India lost overnight batsman KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara without adding much to the total and at 57 for three and lead only 51, India seemed to have squandered the advantage.

But skipper Kohli and M Vijay added 43 runs for the fourth wicket to extend India's lead before the latter was dismissed at the stroke of lunch.

But Kohli (41, 79b, 6x4) and a super smooth Ajinkya Rahane (48, 68b, 6x4) milked 34 runs for the fifth wicket. Kagiso Rabada ended the partnership when he castled Kohli on the team score of 134.

Ahead by 127 runs at that stage, India benefited immensely by the gumption of two tailenders Bhuvneshwar Kumar (33, 76b, 2x4) and Mohammad Shami (27, 28b, 1x4, 2x6).

First, Bhuvneshwar helped Rahane to realise 55 runs for the seventh wicket that took India past the 200-run mark. Then Shami and Bhuvneshwar stitched together 35 runs in just over seven overs - an alliance that mocked the tough nature of the trampoline.

The dismissal of Shami, brought about by Lungi Ngidi, hastened the end of Indian innings at 247 for a lead of 240 runs.

It's a massive advantage considering the nature of the wicket and the blows coped by batsmen from either side testified it.

The umpires' decision to take the teams off the field after nine overs into the second innings of South Africa sparked some frenzied reactions, based on the fact that Indian batsmen too suffered more than one blow in their second innings.

In the end, the decision has been made to continue the play and hopefully, an engrossing Test match will come to a deserving culmination on the fourth day.