Pune:India are three wickets away from registring a record win against South Africa as the visitors have been reduced to 172 runs for the loss of seven wickets at Tea on Day four of the ongoing second Test, here, on Sunday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association.
Just like in Proteas' first innings, South African tailenders Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj are once again fighting a losing battle.
At the end of the second session, the South Africans were trailing India by 154 runs with three wickets in hand at tea after starting the second innings 326 runs in arrears.
In the post-lunch session, Ravindra Jadeja (2/47 in 19 overs) removed Quinton de Kock (5) and Temba Bavuma (38) while Mohammed Shami (1/34 in 9 overs), with a short delivery, got rid of Senuran Muthusamy (9).
However, Philander (29 batting) and Maharaj (17 batting) again came together to delay the inevitable adding 43 runs in 16.1 overs.
In the morning, the stodgy Dean Elgar (48 off 72 balls) put up some stiff resistance before Ravichandran Ashwin (2/45 in 21 overs) snuffed him out, in what was a decisive blow for the Proteas just before lunch.
After going wicketless in the first innings, Ishant Sharma (1/17 off 5 overs) struck with the very second delivery of the morning, a full-length in-dipper that struck Aiden Markram's pads (0) and umpire Nigel Llong raised his finger.
After a long discussion with non-striker Elgar, Markram didn't opt for the review but TV replays clearly showed the ball was missing the leg-stump. The opener thus had the ignominy of bagging a ''pair'' in this Test.