Centurion: India were facing a second Test defeat at SuperSport Park on Tuesday as hosts South Africa took three quick wickets before stumps to leave the tourists on 35-3.

Virat Kohli’s side looked to be in a challenging position to level the series as they were set a tough target of 287 to win late on Day four in the Test between the top two teams in the world.

And the task became even harder when Murali Vijay (9), Lokesh Rahul (4) and Kohli (5) all fell before stumps.

South Africa were 258 all out in their second innings, with captain Faf du Plessis finally falling for 48 off 141 balls.

Du Plessis reverted to an attritional approach after seeing his team lose three quick wickets in the morning session. He featured in a partnership of 46 with Vernon Philander that edged South Africa toward a match-winning position, although the result was by no means certain.

No team has scored more than 251 in the fourth innings of a Test at SuperSport Park, meaning an India victory would be the highest ever chase at the ground. But this pitch isn’t a typically bowler-friendly strip and India captain Kohli made 153 in the first innings.

Seamers Mohammad Shami took 4-49 and Jasprit Bumrah 3-70 for India, preventing South Africa from running away with the game in the second innings. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ended South Africa’s innings when No. 11 Lungi Ngidi was caught on the long-on boundary, Ashwin’s only wicket.

Du Plessis was the second last man out, dismissed by a one-handed catch by Bumrah off his own bowling and shortly after he had dropped a similar chance from du Plessis.

Du Plessis hit just four fours in his innings as South Africa crawled through the afternoon session. Philander was equally unadventurous in his 26 from 85 balls before he was out.

He fell trying to play a rare attacking shot, caught off a mistimed pull off Ishant Sharma, who took both South African wickets in the middle session. Two overs after Philander went, Keshav Maharaj was out for 6. Before lunch, Shami took three quick wickets to move India back into contention in a test it must win to have a chance at a first ever series victory in South Africa. Top-ranked India trails No. 2 South Africa 1-0 in the three-game contest.

Shami on song

Shami dismissed AB de Villiers to break his 141-run partnership with Dean Elgar, then removed Elgar and Quinton de Kock in quick succession to leave South Africa on 173-5, a lead of just 201.

India collected those three wickets in the space of six overs and for just 19 runs as South Africa’s solid start to the fourth day was suddenly halted.

De Villiers (80) and Elgar (61) took South Africa from 90-2 overnight to 144 before de Villiers edged behind to wicketkeeper Parthik Patel. Elgar was caught at backward square leg. Du Plessis and Philander shut the door, though, working their way through 156 deliveries — 26 overs — for their 46-run partnership.

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st innings: 335

India 1st innings: 307

South Africa 2nd innings (Overnight: 90-2)

A. Markram lbw b Bumrah 1

D. Elgar c Rahul b Shami 61

H. Amla lbw b Bumrah 1

AB de Villiers c Patel b Shami 80

Faf du Plessis c and b Bumrah 48

Q. de Kock c Patel b Shami 12

V. Philander c Vijay b Sharma 26

K. Maharaj c Patel b Sharma 6

K. Rabada c Kohli b Shami 4

M. Morkel not out 10

L. Ngidi c Vijay b Ashwin 1

Extras: (2b, 5lb, 1w) 8

Total (all out) 258

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-3, 3-144, 4-151, 5-163, 6-209, 7-215, 8-245, 9-245, 10-258.

Bowling: Ravichandran Ashwin 29.3-6-78-1, Jasprit Bumrah 20-3-70-3 (1w), Ishant Sharma 17-3-40-2, Mohammed Shami 16-3-49-4, Hardik Pandya 9-1-14-0

India 2nd innings:

M. Vijay b Rabada 9

K.L. Rahul c Maharaj b Ngidi 4

C. Pujara not out 11

V. Kohli lbw b Ngidi 5

P Patel not out 5

Extras (b1) 1

Total (for three in 23 overs) 35

To bat: RG Sharma, HH Pandya, R Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, I Sharma, JJ Bumrah

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-16, 3-26

Bowling: VD Philander 6-3-6-0, K Rabada 5-2-9-1, L Ngidi 6-2-14-2, M Morkel 5-3-4-0, K Maharaj 1-0-1-0