India six wickets away from victory in first Test

India are well-placed to achieve victory in the opening Test as they seek to win a series in South Africa for the first time.

The tourists will need six wickets, and South Africa 211 runs, when the final day's play begins on Thursday at Pretoria's Centurion Park in the first of three Tests.

Having dismissed India for 174 in their second innings midway through the fourth day, South Africa were left to chase 305, a record target at the venue, in four-and-a-half sessions.

They closed on 4-94 with Dean Elgar battling 195 minutes for an unbeaten 52.

India gained an early breakthrough when Mohammed Shami, who took 5-44 in the first innings, induced Aiden Markram to play on for one in the second over.

Keegan Petersen followed for 17, caught behind off Mohammed Siraj.

On a lively wicket providing plenty of assistance for the seamers, Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen held out for 22 overs, adding 40, before Jasprit Bumrah brought the ball back to bowl the latter offering no stroke for a 65-ball 11.

In the day's final over, Bumrah followed up by yorking nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (8) to bring play to a close.

"The wicket has variable bounce so if we keep bowling the right areas then we're in a good position in the game," India batting coach Vikram Rathour said.

"If we can carry on doing that tomorrow, I think we will create lot of opportunities ... We need to keep hitting those lengths consistently."

"We have to show belief," South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said. "We will strategise overnight and work out how we want to approach this.

"Dean has done this countless times, where he shows fight when it is toughest. He will know his job is not over, he is leading from the front."

Earlier Rabada took 4-42 as the Proteas' quick bowlers snagged all ten Indian wickets, with Marco Jansen landing 4-55 and Lungi Ngidi picking up the other two wickets.

Rishabh Pant, with a run-a-ball 34, top-scored with only KL Rahul (23) and Ajinkya Rahane (20) also getting out of the teens.

India, having established a 130-run first innings lead, had started the day on 1-16 and lost wickets at regular intervals. Nevertheless, they are likely to have made enough runs.

The highest fourth-innings chase at Centurion Park is 8-251 by England in 2000, the infamous Test where Hansie Cronje brokered a deal in which both teams forfeited an innings after rain to force a result. That is one of only two defeats by South Africa on this ground.

The next highest is 4-226 by South Africa against Pakistan in 1998.

But the weather could thwart India. The second day was washed out, and more rain is predicted for at least part of the fifth day.