South Africa vs India, 1st Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

India asked to chase 208!

That's that! SA have been bundled out for 130! Massive chance for India to go 1-0 up here, more so with Dale Steyn not available for South Africa to share bowling duties. The visitors need 208 runs, SA need their bowlers to breakthrough as early as they can and keep chipping away. After an eventful morning session, two more exciting ones are anticipated. Lunch has been taken for now! Here's our report from the manic morning session.

Nine down and Dale Steyn will bat!

Some heroic stuff from the pacer who has already been ruled out of the series with a heel injury. In fact, he was seen sporting a moon boot and needed crutches to walk.

Eight down!

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to the attack, dishes out a couple of bouncers before bowling the perfect length to lure Keshav Maharaj into lunging forward at the ball and nicking it to Saha. South Africa are down to 122 for 8.

Mohammed Shami has another!

South Africa are seven down! Shami has hit a length on off and got it to snake in to the right hander. He was struck in line and the umpire ruled in India's favour. Philander, for some reason, went for a review. There was clear day light between bat and ball, and the ball was going to hit the leg stump. India couldn't have asked for a better opening session on Day 4. SA are 95 for 7.

How long will the pitch play in India's favour?

The rain on Day 3 has surely spruced things up. But, Kaushik has provided some key information. His chat with groundsman Evan Flint has revealed that the impact of the extra moisture is likely to last for first two hours. With the sun out, batting is only going to get better. India basically have another hour to cause further damage.

India pick their fourth wicket of the morning

Dream start for Virat Kohli's men. He's spent majority of the session yelling different things from the slips, but the uplifting of energy has surely helped here. In the midst of an incredible spell, Bumrah produces another snorter - from round the stumps to Quinton de Kock. The ball was slightly full and nipped back into de Kock, beating the attempted drive. Kohli was very confident that there was an inside edge, and reviewed straightaway when the umpire didn't rule in India's favour. TV replays however, overturned the decision to send the wicketkeeper-batsman on his way. SA down to 92 for 6.

Jasprit Bumrah produces a snorter!

Excellent ball from the debutant. He gets a good length ball - at 141 kmphs - to do things that du Plessis didn't expect. The South African captain was lunging forward to defend the ball, but the bounce was unexpected and took the glove on the way to Saha. This was Bumrah's Sreesanth moment in South Africa? Remember *that* ball to Jacques Kallis?

And Rabada nicks one...

This was coming, wasn't it? On multiple occasions, Shami beat the left-hander's outside edge and got encouraged to keep doing it. Shami pulled his length back a little and directed one closer to Rabada's body. The tailender was left squared up by the ball, clearly surprised by the difference in line and length, and ended up nicking it to Virat Kohli.

Kaushik pings a fine observation from Cape Town. He says : Just the ball before KG's [Rabada's] dismissal, Kohli asked square leg to go to a 3/4th distance. KG should have known, it was going to be shorter, he probably expected it to be more at this body.

Shami starts well

The fast bowler has had a contrasting start to the second innings, after being all over the place in the first. The support and chatter from behind the stumps for him has been immense too. Virat Kohli is constantly egging him on - Chodna matt, Shami. Chodna matt,which translates to 'don't leave it, Shami. Don't leave it' which could be a reference to his excellent round-the-stumps line and length to the left-handed Kagiso Rabada who has struggled to put bat to ball. Good start for India so far.

Early wicket for India

Mohammed Shami has made the sort of start that Virat Kohli will be chuffed with. Shami's short of length delivery kicked up a little more than Hashim Amla expected, and ended up nicking it. Rohit Sharma caught it very low, and claimed it. The umpires went upstairs, but the soft signal OUT sealed the batter's fate. That's another failure for Amla, who has fallen in similar fashion in both innings.SA 66 for 3.

Prelude - Bright and sunny in Cape Town!

Here's a monday where most you folks should be excited about - it is bright and sunny in Cape Town! The rain has stayed away since Day 3 was abandoned due to it and we'll surely have a normal time start. So let's move on to how the Test is poised

- South Africa are surely on top, what with their 142-run lead. But, India still have a chance to force a change of direction in the game. Early wickets - 2,4 or even 5 - inside the first two sessions on Day 4 could still mean game on.

- If South Africa come out with the idea of forcing the pace of the game and get quick runs, even constant wickets may not hamper them. A lead of 280 or more, of which they are already halfway through, could be more than enough.