JOHANNESBURG: Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli batted India into a position of dominance on the third day of the first Test against South Africa at the New Wanderers Stadium here on Friday.

Pujara hit his sixth century in only his 16th Test as India piled up 284 for two in their second innings, an overall lead of 320, against a depleted South African bowling attack.

The foundation was laid by Pujara and Murali Vijay (39) during a watchful second wicket stand of 70.

Pujara (135 not out) and first innings century-maker Kohli (77 not out) shared an unbeaten third-wicket partnership of 191 on a pitch which for the most part has been difficult for batsmen.

But as the South African bowlers wilted the batsmen were able to score freely, adding 175 in 38 overs between tea and the close.

South Africa were without Morne Morkel for most of the innings after the tall fast bowler suffered a strained right ankle while fielding. The injury is likely to keep Morkel out of the second and final Test starting in Durban on Dec 26.

Pujara was cautious at the start of his innings, taking 127 balls to reach his fifty but he then blossomed, needing only another 41 deliveries to reach his century. By the close he had faced 221 balls and hit 18 boundaries.

Kohli, who made 119 in the first innings, was content to play a secondary role and his 77 was scored off 132 balls with eight fours.

South Africa’s only successes came from Philander and Jacques Kallis, who dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay respectively. Philander had Dhawan caught at second slip for 15.

India’s imposing second innings came after Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma finished with four wickets apiece as South Africa were bowled out for 244, giving India a first innings lead of 36.

South Africa made a confident start to the day after resuming on 213 for six, with Philander punching two short-pitched deliveries from Ishant Sharma through the covers for four. The first boundary brought up his third Test half-century.

Sharma and Zaheer soon found their rhythm, again bowling mainly to a full length on a pitch with unpredictable bounce. The left-armed Zaheer made a ball nip away off the seam to have Philander caught behind for 59, made off 86 balls with seven fours. It ended a seventh-wicket partnership of 80 with Faf du Plessis.—AFP

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings) 280

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings, overnight 213-6):

G. Smith lbw b Zaheer Khan 68

A. Petersen lbw b I. Sharma 21

H. Amla b I. Sharma 36

J. Kallis lbw b I. Sharma 0

A. de Villiers lbw b Mohammed Shami 13

J. Duminy c Vijay b Mohammed Shami 2

F. du Plessis c Dhoni b Zaheer Khan 20

V. Philander c Ashwin b Zaheer Khan 59

D. Steyn c R. Sharma b I. Sharma 10

M. Morkel b Zaheer Khan 7

Imran Tahir not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-4, NB-3, W-1) 8

TOTAL (all out, 75.3 overs) 244

FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-130, 3-130, 4-130, 5-145, 6-146, 7-226, 8-237, 9-239.BOWLING: Zaheer Khan 26.3-6-88-4 (1w); Mohammed Shami 18-3-48-2; I. Sharma 25-5-79-4 (3nb); Ashwin 6-0-25-0.

INDIA (2nd Innings):

S. Dhawan c Kallis b Philander 15

M. Vijay c De Villiers b Kallis 39

C. Pujara not out 135

V. Kohli not out 77

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-5, W-8) 18

TOTAL (for two wkts, 78 overs) 284

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-93.

BOWLING (to-date): Steyn 21-4-64-0 (2w); Philander 18-5-53-1 (1w); Morkel 2-1-4-0; Kallis 14-4-51-1; Imran Tahir 11-0-55-0; De Villiers 1-0-5-0 (1w); Duminy 11-0-42-0.