Philander reaches Test milestone

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 19: Vernon Philander of South Africa celebrates a wicket during day 2 of the 1st Test match between South Africa and India at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on December 19, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 19: Vernon Philander of South Africa celebrates a wicket during day 2 of the 1st Test match between South Africa and India at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on December 19, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

Published Dec 20, 2013

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Johannesburg – India moved to 31 for one at lunch with a lead of 67 runs in their second innings, on day three of the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, in Johannesburg, on Friday.

Cheteshwar Pujara (4) and Murali Vijay (12) were unbeaten at the interval.

Vernon Philander brought up his 100th Test wicket with the scalp of Shikhar Dhawan in the eighth over of India's second innings.

The 28-year-old also became the fastest South African bowler to 100 wickets, taking just 19 Tests to achieve the feat, pitching a delivery short of a length which Dhawan edged to Jacques Kallis at second slip.

In the final over before lunch, Morne Morkel injured his ankle attempting to field a ball in the outfield. The key bowler had to be helped off the field, and South Africa could face the prospect of being without Morkel for the rest of the innings.

Earlier, South Africa added just 31 runs to their overnight total of 213 for six before being bowled out for 244.

South Africa trailed India by 36 runs after India had posted 280.

At the start of play Philander, resuming on 48 overnight, moved to his half-century off the first ball of the day, crashing one through the covers. Another boundary followed in the same over as South Africa looked to whittle down the deficit.

After racing to 59, Philander was outdone by a probing delivery on offstump from Zaheer Khan which took the edge and was caught by Ravichandran Ashwin at first slip.

The wicket brought to an end an 80-run partnership between Philander and Faf du Plessis (20), after the pair had come to the middle with South Africa in deep trouble at 146 for six on day two.

Du Plessis was induced into an edge by Khan giving wicketkeeper MS Dhoni a straightforward catch.

South Africa added just five more runs before Khan had the last say with a yorker to dismiss Morkel.

Khan took 4/88 in his comeback Test, after close to a year out of the frame, and while Ishant Sharma returned 4/79. – Sapa

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