Cape Town Test: Day 3 called off due to persistent rains

Cape Town [South Africa], Jan 7 (ANI): The third day's play between India and South Africa has been called off, owing to persistent rains, that had even washed out the first two sessions of today's day here at the Newland Grounds.

The rains, which started early in the morning, showed no signs of stopping. Even though, the intensity of the rains had reduced prior to the tea session, continued drizzles throughout the day, ensured that no play was possible. The umpires finally called off the game at 3:31 pm (local time).

At the end of Day 3, in the second innings, South Africa were 65 for 2, with nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada on 2 and Hashim Amla on 5. The overall lead currently stands at 142 runs.

The fourth day's play is expected to begin at 10:30 am (local time) tomorrow. About 98 overs are to be bowled across the three sessions.

Earlier, in India's first innings, all-rounder Hardik Pandya shone with the bat and the ball to help India stay afloat against the hosts yesterday.

The top and middle-order were left baffled by the swinging conditions. None of the Indian batsmen managed to make a good start as the wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

In reply to South Africa's first innings score of 286, India lost Murali Vijay (1), Shikhar Dhawan (16) and skipper Virat Kohli (5) cheaply on day 1. Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara then steadied the innings and took the team past the 50-run mark.

But, Rohit and Pujara failed to convert their good starts into and were dismissed for 11 and 26 respectively.

Pandya was the lone warrior as he struck a swashbuckling 93 in the first innings to lift India to 209. South Africa had secured a lead of 77 runs.

For South Africa, Vernon Philander was the pick of the bowlers for his remarkable figures of 3 for 33, followed by Kagiso Rabada's 3 for 34.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn grabbed two wickets each.

Pandya also accounted the wickets of South African openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram to break the 51-run partnership in the Proteas' second innings. (ANI)