Nagpur - Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra struck two telling blows in the second session to derail South Africa's chase, reducing the visitors to 151-6 at tea on the third day of the spin-dominated third Test on Friday.
Chasing a 310-run victory target, South Africa were reeling on 58-4 when skipper Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis joined hands to forge the highest partnership in the low-scoring contest and resist India's push for a victory.
The duo survived numerous leg-before and bat-pad catch appeals before Mishra ended the 72-run fifth wicket stand to boost India's hopes of taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
JP Duminy was batting on 15 at the break with Dane Vilas (two) at the other end.
South Africa, the world's top-ranked Test team who have not lost an away series since 2006, are still 159 runs behind their target after resuming the day on 32-2.
Ravichandran Ashwin continued to make the most of the turning track at the VCA Stadium, dismissing Dean Elgar (18) and AB de Villiers (nine) in the morning to peg back South Africa.
Ashwin, the leading wicket-taker in the series, struck in the fourth over of the day when Cheteshwar Pujara took a bat-pad catch at silly mid on to send back Elgar.
The off-spinner struck a bigger blow when he foxed de Villiers with a carrom ball to trap the batsman plumb in front.
Amla dug in to negate the spin of the turning track, playing with soft hands so edges did not carry to slip, while du Plessis used his feet well against the spinners.
In a Test match that saw 32 wickets tumble on the first two days, the pair showed grit and determination to thwart the Indian bowlers for more than 46 overs before Mishra separated them.
Amla offered an edge off the top half of his bat to perish in gully and in Mishra's next over, du Plessis lost his stump to a ball that kept low. Both the batsmen contributed 39 runs each.
Reuters