Mohali, India: South Africa ripped through India's batting in the bowler-dominated first Test in Mohali on Saturday after the hosts appeared to be cruising towards a match-winning lead.

India, who started the third day at 125-2 in their second innings, suffered a batting meltdown in the morning session to go to lunch on 185 for eight at the I.S. Bindra stadium.

The hosts have an overall lead of 202 runs with two wickets in hand on a dusty pitch that produced 22 wickets on the first two days and remains difficult to bat on. 

India moved to 161-2 before the top-ranked Proteas, without their injured pace spearhead Dale Steyn, grabbed three top-order wickets for as many runs to spark a collapse. 

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

Medium-pacer Stiaan 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 Imran 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 Simon Harmer.

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

Tahir had Ravichandran Ashwin caught in the slips off the last ball before lunch, leaving Wriddhiman Saha unbeaten on eight.  

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