Rishabh Pant scored a brilliant unbeaten ton for India on day three of the deciding Test against South Africa at New lands, but the hosts made major strides towards winning the series after closing on 101-2 in pursuit of a 212 victory target.
South Africa still require another 111 for victory on a difficult batting wicket that saw India bowled out for 198 in their second innings, a score which owed any semblance of competitiveness to the impressive Pant.
The left-hander took the attack to the home bowlers, smashing four sixes in an innings of high quality, while captain Virat Kohli (29) was the only other player to score more than 10 as India lost wickets regularly having resumed on 57-2.
Pant showed superb skill to weather a storm from the home pacers and then show his full repertoire of shots in a customary counter-attack, while left-arm pacer Marco Jansen finished with 4-36, and K a g i s o Ra bad a and L u n g i N g i d i with three wickets each.
With the series on the line, home captain Dean Elgar (30) and Keegan Petersen(48) not out put on 78 for the second wicket in a partnership that swung the match in the home side's favor.
But Elgar was out to what proved to be the last ball of the day, strangled down the leg side as he edged pacer J as p r it B u m rah to wicket keeper Pant.
"If you had come to us in the morning and asked if we would take 101 for two (chasing 212), we would have taken that and run" South Africa pacer N i g i d I said.
"We are in a pretty good position. Another strong partnership and we are well in this game."
A fourth innings target of over 200 has been successfully chased only three times in 133 years at New lands, but one of those occasions was when South Africa chased 211 for the loss of five wickets against India in 2007.
India are chasing a first-ever series win in South Africa and are level 1-1 after winning the first test in Pretoria before the hosts bounced back to claim the second.
Rishabh Pant registered his fourth Test century on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test match between India and South Africa in Cape Town. The knock proved to be crucial as India reached 198 in their second innings, setting a target of 212 runs for the hosts. Pant smashed 100 off 139 balls and remained unbeaten. During his blistering knock, he also hammered six fours and four maximums.
Former India opener Virender S e h w a g led the reactions on Twitter as fans and experts lauded the wicket keeper - batter. The legendary cricketer wrote, "Incredible 100 from #RishabhPant. Just two other batsmen reached double fingers and has single-handedly kept India in the game. Not just an ex-factor but one of India's biggest match-winner in Test cricket."
A simply outstanding knock by @RishabhPant17 at a crucial stage! Well done, wrote S a c h in Ten d u l k are
I P L side Rajasthan Royals (RR) also hailed the ton and called it "top-quality".
Take care of your bat, and it will take care of you! A top-quality ton from Rishabh Pant 100, wrote RR.
He has scored Test tons in Australia and England before and this one in Cape Town is right up there with one of the best counter-attacking innings one would ever see. Has kept India in the game. Take a bow, wrote VVS Lax man
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