South Africa vs India 3rd Test, Day 2: 5 things we learnt from the day

A steely, calm, composed knock from Hashim Amla and a counter-attacking 35 from Vernon Philander pushed South Africa to a seven-run lead post tea on day 2 of the third Test. But any advantage their batsmen had given was wiped off by some poor bowling by their seamers late in the day as India raced off to 49/1 by stumps.

Earlier, Kagiso Rabada withstood for 84 balls while Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent back Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers, the latter with a sensational inswinger. After Jasprit Bumrah sent back Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock, it seemed like India would get a lead but Amla and Philander thwarted those plans with contrasting styles of batting.

Bumrah finished with a maiden five-for, cleaning up the tail after he had Amla caught in the deep. India lost makeshift opener, Parthiv Patel, early but saw off further damage with South Africa bowling bizarre wide lines.

#5 Bhuvneshwar Kumar does a Philander

Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit his straps early on day 2

India's very own swing king, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, was right on the money on day 2, forcing Dean Elgar and Kagiso Rabada onto the front foot before using his off-cutter like seam movement to beat the bat. Every single ball seemed like a replay of the other as Bhuvneshwar hit the right channel to consistently befuddle the batsmen.

His opening spell in the day read 5-4-1-1 with the sole wicket coming off a brilliantly bowled delivery at Dean Elgar. The South African opener, who had played and missed quite a lot early on, pushed at a ball that had to be played at but the seam movement caught his edge. Bhuvneshwar rip-roaring spell ensured that South Africa could barely get runs on the board in the first hour of the morning session.

He returned to set up AB de Villiers with outswingers and cleaned him up with a superb inswinger. Bhuvneshwar was the sole Indian bowler to threaten the stumps and reaped rewards for his control and skill.

#4 Kagiso Rabada's vigil

The usually expressive Rabada wore a dour look as he battled it out with the bat

As a nightwatchman, Rabada's role was to stay at the wicket and ensure that he would see off the day without further damage. This he did with aplomb on day 1 but unlike the other nightwatchman, he did not throw his bat at a wide one and gift his wicket early on. Instead, he appeared more compact than Dean Elgar and defended inside the line, rarely letting his bat waft outside the off-stump.

It was an impressive display of solid defence and excellent judgement outside the off-stump from Rabada on a surface where bowlers call the shots. His 30 came in 84 balls and frustrated Kohli and co to no end. They had to get into the likes of Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers in the morning session but Rabada's vigil ensured that South Africa held the aces going into lunch, although he was dismissed an over before it.

#3 Hashim Amla does a Steven Smith

Amla covered up his tendency to drive away from the body with a shuffle movement

The most interesting part of Hashim Amla's innings was his uncharacteristic, Steven Smith-like shuffle across the stumps to cover for the swing and seam movement. With a rejigged trigger movement, Amla not only put the Indian seamers off but also accounted for his tendency to waft at wide balls.

The bearded warrior stood tall as South Africa's middle-order succumbed to the guile of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. The altered technique combined with good hand-eye coordination ensured that Amla was on top of the bowlers throughout his knock. A deserved half-century ensured that South Africa weren't totally out of the contest at any stage.

#2 De Kock continues his struggle

De Kock's form will worry the Proteas in a bowler heavy line-up

South Africa will be forced to rethink their combinations for the upcoming Australian Tests if Quinton de Kock continues to remain tentative against the moving ball. The diminutive wicket-keeper batsman hasn't been at his best this series with the Indian seamers managing to best him with seam movement outside the off-stump.

While counter-attacking has been the way to go this series, on a pretty tough batting track, De Kock failed to show the temperament needed to survive and before long inside edged Bumrah through to Parthiv Patel much like he did at Centurion. The southpaw has been in worrisome form and in a batting line-up that does not go beyond 6, his form will concern the Proteas think-tank.

#1 Kohli pulls out funky move as South Africa err

Philander was shorter and wider in this innings

Virat Kohli sprung a surprise by opening the innings with Murali Vijay and Parthiv Patel, the latter pushed to the top possibly for a left-right combination at the top. The move nearly paid off as Patel raced to a 15 ball 16, flashing his blades and quickly erasing the seven run deficit. A spectacular catch from Markram, though, brought Patel's stay at the crease to an end.

South Africa's seamers on the other hand were off radar, allowing the Indians to leave quite easily late in the day. They were also short and never really tested the Indian top three with the new ball. In a game where every run counts, India might just have edged ahead due to South Africa's unusually off hour with the ball.