India vs South Africa 1st Test: What does Day 4 hold?

The fourth day of the ongoing first Test between India and South Africa could well end up as the moving day in the game.

After amassing five hundred on the board, the path had seemed to pose no hurdles for the Indians as they scalped three South African wickets by the end of Day 2 to take the driver's seat. While the hosts would have been confident of wrapping the visitors for a paltry score and inflict a huge first innings lead, what actually transpired stood in stark contrast.

Resuming the innings at their overnight score of 39/3, the South Africans showed a better application of skill on the third morning. Opener Dean Elgar and middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma added 24 runs at a brisk pace before the latter was trapped LBW by Ishant Sharma. The fall of this wicket brought Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis to the crease and what followed spelt an unexpected plight for the Indians.

Elgar and du Plessis assumed the crease with authority to put the Indian bowlers on the back foot. The duo stitched a crucial 115-run stand for the fifth wicket to bring South Africa back into the game. The skipper's departure, at 178, brought momentary relief for the Indians, who would eventually be battered by a more daunting partnership.

Wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock joined hands with Dean Elgar to keep Virat Kohli and Co at bay. The left-handed batsmen scored runs freely to pile agony for the Indian bowlers. In a partnership that lasted for over 40 overs, Elgar and de Kock accounted for 166 runs together. Elgar's wicket, in the 100th over though opened the door for India as the spinners made a couple of quick breakthroughs to claw their way back.

South Africa put on 385 runs on the board for the loss of 8 wickets, trailing the visitors by 117 runs at the stroke of stumps of Day 3.

Come Day 4 and the Indians will be keen on claiming the two remaining wickets quickly. In the third innings, the team would want to build on their lead at a fair clip to give themselves a chance of bowling at South Africa towards the end of the day's play.

The Proteas, on the other hand, will be hoping their tailenders defy the Indian bowlers for as long as possible. The Faf du Plessis-led unit, if it is to entertain any slender chances of winning the game, would also want the bowlers to work wonders with the ball and restrict India to a meagre total in the third innings.