2nd Test: South Africa in control with 118-run lead after Kohli-Bumrah keep India in hunt on Day 3

Centurion, Jan 15: South Africa took a significant 119-run lead before rain and bad light stopped third day's play in the second Test match against India here on Monday (January 15).

AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar recovered hosts from early losses of Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla and took their team to 90/6 before bad light forced stumps. De Villiers struck yet another fine half-century while Elgar is giving able contribution from the other end at 36*.

The duo will now resume innings on day four and would look to extend their lead against Virat Kohli and his boys to keep themselves in driver's seat.

Match Scorecard; Day 1 Report; Social Talk

Leading India by 28 runs by virtue of their first innings' total, the Proteas were off to a disastrous start when Jasprit Bumrah trapped Markram (1) and Amla (1) in almost similar fashion.

Wicket! Wow, this is an exceptional start by India and in particular Bumrah. Another one that keeps low and Amla has to go for 1. SA are 3/2 and lead by 31 #SAvIND #SunfoilTest pic.twitter.com/bM1HBxZ7cJ

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 15, 2018

Bumrah's dual strikes almost opened the game wide open but former skipper De Villiers staged a solid recovery for the hosts. He and Elgar constructed their innings well and denied the visitors from any further success. Together, the duo put up a stand of 87 runs and controlled the game.

My view is that South Africa will be very nervous with a 250 lead. If AB gets in, they will get there quickly. Currently he holds the key to the game https://t.co/C5qURSnlmn

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 15, 2018

Bumrah almost had Elgar's wicket but a lack of judgement between wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel gave the southpaw a reprieve. It was the wicketkeeper's catch but Parthiv failed to attempt it and left it on the fielder at slip cordon. Elgar was also troubled by R Ashwin, at the start of the innings but a haywire bowling from the pacers gave him enough time to settle down.

De Villiers, on the other end, was the aggressor as he started attacking Indian bowlers to put them under pressure.

Earlier, India were bowled out for 307 in their first innings before skipper Virat Kohli slammed his career's 21st Test century. Kohli's valiant knock was the only highlight of the Indian innings.

Highest Test scores for INDIA when no other batter scored a fifty in the inns:

195 - Virender Sehwag v AUS, MCG 2003
184 - Vinoo Mankad v ENG, Lord's 1952
167 - VVS Laxman v AUS, SCG 2000
153 - VIRAT KOHLI#SAvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 15, 2018

Kohli (153) emerged as the top scorer of the match and was the last Indian wicket to perish. Kohli became a victim of Morne Morkel while he was attempting to play some big shots as the visitors were already 9 down.

Barring Kohli, no other batsman could trouble the South African bowlers as the visitors kept losing wickets at regular interval. None of the Indian batsmen was able to offer any resistance. R Ashwin, however, showed some resistance as he attacked the hosts and put up a 71-run stand with Kohli for the seventh wicket.

In Virat Kohli 's first 11 test hundred's, 2 scores of 150 + ,next 10 hundred's, all converted to 150 + .The thing about big players, when they score, they make it count.
Important now for the bowlers to bowl with discipline. #SAvIND

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 15, 2018

The tall all-rounder troubled and frustrated the Proteas as the old ball helped him play well, but the right-handed batsman failed once the second new ball was available. Philander got him caught at slip on the first delivery he bowled with the second new ball.

India started the third day's with 183/5 and added 103 runs to their total in the first session and were 287/7 till lunch, but also lost the wickets of Hardik Pandya (15), R Ashwin (38) and Mohammad Shami (1).

India lost the remaining two wickets in Ishant Sharma and Kohli and were folded for 307, 28 runs behind South Africa's 335.

Most Test 100s away from home since 2011:

11 Kohli
10 Smith#SAvInd

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 15, 2018

Kohli, however, emerged as the last man standing in front of South Africa attack to help the visitors stay afloat. The skipper slammed his second Test century on South African soil and became the second captain after Sachin Tendulkar to slam a ton here. He displayed his class with the bat to prove why he's a treat to watch. The 29-year-old batsman frustrated hosts and eluded them his wicket.

South African pace quartet of Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Lungi Nagidi performed brilliantly as a unit.