South Africa struck two key blows to negate India's initial advantage of batting first on a dusty, turning pitch in the third Test at the VCA stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday.
The tourists, seeking a series-levelling win, removed openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay as India plodded to 85 for two by lunch on a dry pitch which already sports wide cracks on the surface.
Dhawan and Vijay put on 50 for the first wicket before South Africa hit back to remove both batsmen in the space of 19 runs.
Left-arm spinner Dean Elgar took a low return catch to dismiss Dhawan for 12, before fast bowler Morne Morkel got rid of the settled Murali Vijay for 40.
Vijay smashed off-spinner Simon Harmer for the first six of the match and also hit three fours before he was caught plumb in front of the wicket by a full-length delivery from Morkel.
At lunch, Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on 18 and skipper Virat Kohli was on 11.
The hosts brought in Amit Mishra to partner Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in a three-man spin attack, and also included Rohit Sharma to bolster the batting.
Mishra and Sharma replaced all-rounder Stuart Binny and fast bowler Varun Aaron.
South Africa also strengthened their spin attack, including off-break bowler Simon Harmer in place of seamer Kyle Abbott.
The top-ranked tourists, who lost the first Test in Mohali before the rain-hit second game in Bangalore was drawn, need a win to take the series into the decider in New Delhi from December 3. – AFP
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