South Africa vs India 2013: 2nd Test: Day 3- Ravindra Jadeja keeps India in the hunt

India’s Ravindra Jadeja appeals to umpire Steve Davis on the third day of the second and final Test between South African and India at Kingsmead in Durban on December 28, 2013

Ravindra Jadeja struck at regular intervals including the crucial wicket of AB de Villiers (74 off 117), who was threatening to take the game away from India in combination with Jacques Kallis (78* off 224), to keep India in the hunt as rain intervened to stop the play with South Africa on 299 for 5 in 104.5 overs in the second Test match at Kingsmead, Durban.

Beginning the day on 82/0 in 20 overs, Jadeja continued to get enough assistance from the pitch to keep India interested. Graeme Smith (47 off 81 deliveries) perished in an attempt to give the left-arm spinner the charge, splendidly caught at midwicket by Shikhar Dhawan. Hashim’s Amla disappointing run of form in the Test series continued as he was bowled by Mohammed Shami while trying to play down the wrong line.

Alviro Petersen (62 off 100 balls) did not last longer either, caught at first slip off Jadeja’s bowling. South Africa lost three wickets for just 31 runs and with the ball reversing, they soon found themselves in a spot of bother.

Jadeja was getting on a roll and the only way to seize the initiative back would be by unsettling him. AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis did exactly that by lofting the left-arm spinner over long-on and long-off and pushed the field back to give themselves some breathing space.

Things started to look gloomy for India as the fourth wicket pair continued to pile on the runs at healthy run rate (127 in 40.5 overs) with the pacers looking ineffective. Jadeja broke the partnership again by producing a delivery that pitched on off-stump line and took just enough turn to draw the outside edge of AB de Villiers.

That blow took a toll on the pace at which the home team were scoring as both Kallis and Jean-Paul Duminy went into a defensive mode (58 in 29.2 overs), dead batting deliveries. Just an over before close of play, Jadeja took his fourth wicket by trapping Duminy (28 off 82 balls) in front, who missed an attempt to flick an incoming delivery to his leg-side. Dale Steyn, who was employed as a night-watchman, did not have much to fret about as the rains arrived in the very next over.

With Kallis looking as solid as ever and Faf Du plessis, Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander to come, India would have to work hard tomorrow to get the remaining wickets if the pacers don’t find their touch back.