JOIN USIndia were 200 all out in their second innings during the post-lunch session on the third day of the first cricket Test against South Africa here today.
India, who had taken a slender 17-run first innings lead, added 60 runs in the morning session while losing six wickets after they resumed the day at 125 for two.
In fact, India lost six wickets for the addition of just 24 runs as they were 161 for two when captain Virat Kohli (29) fell just after the drinks break.
Wriddhiman Saha (8 batting) was at the crease when lunch was taken after the fall of Ravichandran Ashwin's (3) wicket.
India lost their overnight batsmen after the first hour play as Hashim Amla's rotation of bowlers worked for the visitors. Cheteshwar Pujara (77) and Kohli started off well to stitch a 66-run third-wicket partnership and get through till the first drinks break, but soon spinners Imran Tahir (3/39) and Simon Harmer(3/56) were pressed into action and the collapse began.
The Proteas struck in the first over after the drinks break with part-time bowler Stiaan van Zyl, who was introduced in the 10th over of the day, getting Kohli caught behind. The military-medium of Zyl proved deceptive as Kohli pushed at a widish good-length delivery and wicketkeeper Dane Vilas took a wobbling catch.
Pujara also did not stay for long after that and the introduction of Tahir from Zyl's end did the trick when the leg-spinner scalped the settled batsman on the very first delivery.
The Saurashtra batsman tried to defend a tossed up delivery from Tahir without moving his feet as the ball took an outside edge to fall into the hands of first slip and Amla made no mistake.
Off-spinner Harmer, who was operating from the other end since the ninth over of the day, then sent Ajinkya Rahane (2) back to the pavilion. Harmer's off-spinner kicked off the turf as Rahane, who was found uncertain with his defence, got an inside edge and substitute Temba Bavuma took another sharp catch at forward short-leg.
Just when Ravindra Jadeja (8) and Saha seemed to be getting into some kind of a groove, Harmer struck again to send the all-rounder packing. Unable to read Harmer's off-spin from around the wicket, Jadeja missed his backfoot flick to be trapped LBW.
Not done yet, Harmer struck again to get Amit Mishra out for 2. Trying a half-hearted sweep, Mishra top-edged the ball to backward square leg and Faf du Plessis made no mistake. Tahir then got Ravichandran Ashwin (3) caught at slip and the umpires called for lunch.
It seemed the visitors did not feel the absence of pace spearhead Steyn, who is sitting out with a groin strain he suffered while fielding on Day 1.