Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are congratulated by teammates Murali Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha at the end of South Africa's first innings in Nagpur on Thursday. 

Agencies/Nagpur

South Africa were set a target of 310 runs to win the third Test in Nagpur after India were bowled out for 173 after tea on the second day on Thursday.

Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 39 while leg-spinner Imran Tahir grabbed five wickets for 38 runs.

South Africa, replying to India's first innings total of 215, were earlier shot out for 79 in 33.1 on the dusty pitch at the VCA stadium.

Earlier, South Africa's batsmen were helpless in the face of Indian spin and collapsed to be all out for 79 in their first innings on the second morning of the third test.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took his 14th five-wicket haul in tests while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bagged four as India, who made 215 after batting first on the turning track at the VCA Stadium, took a lead of 136 runs.

Legspinner Amit Mishra dismissed JP Duminy (35), the highest scorer for the touring side, who resumed the day on 11-2.

South Africa's total was the lowest by an opponent dismissed by India in a test match, beating the previous mark of 82 posted by Sri Lanka in 1990 at Chandigarh.

The tourists' batsmen appeared clueless against the accuracy of Ashwin and Jadeja on a pitch offering variable pace and bounce for the bowlers.

Opening batsman Dean Elgar (seven) fell in the first over of the day to Ashwin and was quickly joined in the dressing room by Hashim Amla (one) and Ab de Villiers (nought).

Faf du Plessis (10) was the first South Africa batsman to reach double figures and, along with Duminy, ensured that the team went past their lowest test score of 30.

India, who won the opening test in Mohali before the second match was washed out due to rain in Bangalore, are eyeing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-test series after losing the preceding one-day international and Twenty20 series.