India send S.Africa spinning towards defeat

India's spinners tied South Africa's batsmen in knots to leave the hosts in sight of victory in the bowler-dominated first Test in Mohali on Saturday.

The Proteas, set a victory target of 218, slipped to 10-3 in their second innings before going to tea on the third day at 56-5.

The tourists will resume after the break still needing 162 runs to win with five wickets in hand on a deteriorating pitch at the I.S. Bindra stadium.

Stiaan van Zyl was unbeaten on 15 and Dane Vilas was on six.

Earlier, South African spinners Simon Harmer and Imran Tahir claimed four wickets each to rip through India's batting in the morning session.

India, who started the third day at 125-2 in their second innings, moved to 161-2 before a batting meltdown saw them lose their last eight wickets for 39 runs.

South Africa, the world's number one Test nation, fared no better when they batted a second time on a dusty, dry pitch that has proved to be a batsman's nightmare.

The gamble to open the batting with tailender Vernon Philander backfired when the fast bowler was leg-before to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja for one in the second over.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who had taken five wickets in the first innings, struck in the third over as Faf du Plessis edged an easy catch to Ajinkya Rahane in the slips.

From 9-2, the Proteas became 32-4 as Jadeja bowled skipper Hashim Amla for no score and star batsman AB de Villiers (16) also found his stumps shattered by leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

The wickets continued to tumble as opener Dean Elgar (16) top-edged an intended pull off seamer Varun Aaron and spooned an easy catch to Indian captain Virat Kohli at mid-on.

The loss of three top-order batsmen in the space of three runs triggered India's collapse in the first session even though the Proteas were without their injured pace spearhead Dale Steyn.

The overnight pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli batted through the first hour to take their third wicket stand to 66 runs.

Medium-pacer van Zyl, the sixth bowler summoned by South African captain Hashim Amla, broke the threatening partnership soon after the drinks interval by having Kohli caught behind for 29.

Pujara himself fell two overs later for 77, edging leg-spinner Tahir's first delivery to Amla in the slips.

South Africa gained another wicket in the next over when Ajinkya Rahane was caught smartly at short-leg by substitute fielder Temba Bavuma off Harmer.

The off-spinner earned two more quick wickets to reduce India to 182-7 as he trapped Jadeja leg-before for eight and had Amit Mishra caught at backward square-leg for two.

Tahir had Ashwin caught in the slips off the last ball before lunch and then terminated the innings after the break by having Wriddhiman Saha caught behind for 20.

The tourists again took the field without Steyn, who was sidelined for the entire innings due to a groin strain.