Ind vs SA: South Africa struggle to gain momentum, 129-6 at lunch

South Africa looked like they were picking up some steam after the first session on Day three before spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Shahbaz Nadeem got the breakthrough for India, putting the visitors in a perilous position. Zubayr Hamza and Temba Bavuma managed to get a partnership going after Faf DuPlessis was sent packing early in the day but fell short after Hamza was bowled over by a low-lying delivery from Jadeja. Temba Bavuma followed Hamza, as he fell prey to Shahbaz Nadeem's turner, making it the first Test scalp for the debutant spinner. South Africa are at 129-6 before lunch, trailing India by 368 runs. 

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India dominate morning session on Day three

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Hamza-Bavuma partnership fails to pick steam

South Africa's Zubayr Hamza brought up his maiden Test half-century on Day three as the visitors slowly recovered from an early strike by India. Resuming the day on 9-2, South Africa lost skipper Faf DuPlessis in the fourth ball of the first over for just one run. Zubayr Hamza along with Temba Bavuma has played a slow yet patient knock as they got the scoreboard ticking with their 50-run partnership. Zubayr Hamza's fifty came off 56 deliveries with eight fours and one six. Zubayr Hamza got to his half-century in style with a six. 

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Dean Elgar dismissed for a duck

Dean Elgar has been one of South Africa's good opening batsman for the last few years. Elgar's second Test series in India began on a high note when he had played a solid knock of 160 in the first Test at Vizag. He then had a couple of bad innings after which he scored 48 in the second innings of the Pune Test match. Prior to the third and final Test at Ranchi, while talking about his team's chances in the final Test match, Elgar had also criticized Indian hospitality after which he had faced backlash from Indian fans on social media. Now, Elgar has given the fans another chance to take a dig at him. The South African innings started in the third session of Day 2 after India had declared their innings at 497/9. On the first delivery, the Proteas got a lucky boundary in the form of byes. On the following delivery,  Shami bowled short of a length delivery around off stump which Elgar looks to leave but unfortunately, the ball hits the back of his bat and Wriddhiman Saha makes no mistake behind the stumps as Elgar's short stay at the crease comes to an end for a duck.

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