On a seam-friendly surface Jasprit Bumrah made the most of it with a five-wicket haul before Virat Kohli helped India extend their lead to 70 by stumps on day two
Match Report:
ScorecardBumrah's five puts India on top in Cape Town
Jasprit Bumrah has taken 5-42 as India bowled South Africa out for 210 and then began to drive home their narrow advantage with the bat in the third Test.
The visitors ended day two of the decisive contest on 2-57 in their second innings at Newlands on Wednesday, giving them an overall lead of 70 – already a significant one on a difficult, seaming wicket.
The fast bowlers have been offered plenty of assistance by conditions in Cape Town, with 22 wickets having tumbled already on the opening two days.
Captain Virat Kohli could prove the key figure as he remains 14 not out in an unbeaten partnership of 33 with Cheteshwar Pujara (9), and they will attempt to take the game away from the home team on the third morning as they chase a first series win in South Africa.
But both India openers were dismissed as Mayank Agarwal (7) was caught by Dean Elgar off Kagiso Rabada and KL Rahul (10) was grabbed by Aiden Markram at slip from the bowling of Marco Jansen.
The long and the short is Keegan Petersen CAN play! I’m very excited with the composure, skill and technique I’ve seen against one of the best attacks in the world.— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 12, 2022
Bumrah gave a masterclass of seam bowling in the South African innings as he got the ball to move both ways and at times leap off the surface.
"There was a phase in the middle (of the day) when not a lot was happening, but we stayed patient," Bumrah told reporters.
"It does seam a lot more with the new ball, and shapes more. But as you spend more time out there the seam goes down and it gets relatively easier (to bat).
"When bowling with the new ball, you have to make the most of it.
"I was trying to focus on the things I can do and generate a good rhythm, and when I am in that frame of mind I usually have a lot of fun and enjoy my game."
Keegan Petersen scored a career-best 72 for the home side but played almost a lone hand in the innings with the next highest score Temba Bavuma's 28.
Petersen, in just his fifth Test, showed admirable patience as he batted for 166 balls before becoming the fourth victim for Bumrah when he edged to Pujara at slip.
It is the kind of surface where batsmen never quite feel settled at the crease and the fact that the ball might misbehave at any point is always in their minds.
Mohammed Shami (2-39), Umesh Yadav (2-64) and Shardul Thakur (1-37) were also among the wicket-takers for the tourists.
"We will keep an eye on how the wicket is going, but it is about keeping the disciplines up, bowling as a unit and applying the pressure by giving less boundary opportunities," Bumrah said.
The series is level at 1-1 after India won the first Test in Pretoria by 113 runs, before South Africa bounced back to claim the second in Johannesburg by seven wickets.