Vijay lifts India to fighting total on a turning Mohali pitch
South Africa moved to 28 for 2 at close in reply to a fighting first innings total of 201 by India in the first Test of the four-match series that began on Thursday in Mohali. On a pitch with variable bounce that clearly aided the spinners, the match looks headed for a result, and is unlikely to go past four days.
Brief scores: India Innings: 201 in 68 overs (M Vijay 75, C Pujara 31, R Jadeja 38, V Philander 2-38, D Elgar 4-22, I Tahir 2-23)vs South Africa Innings 28-2 in 20 overs.
Left-arm spinner Dean Elgar, who had only six victims from 17 Tests to his name before this match, took 4-22 as the hosts were bundled out in 68 overs after opting to bat first. Twelve wickets fell on the opening day with a spin-strong India hitting back quickly, claiming two scalps, leaving Elgar (13) and skipper Hashim Amla (9) in the middle.
Opener Murali Vijay struck his 12th Test fifty (75, 12 fours) to save India, while recalled all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s 38 runs, and his 42-run eighth wicket stand with Ravichandran Ashwin (20 not out), was worth its weight in gold, considering that run-making is bound to get considerably more difficult in the second innings.
South Africa went in with three quicks – Kagiso Rabada made his debut – and two specialist spinners in Imran Tahir and off-spinner Simon Harmer. Elgar turned out be so effective that mainstay spinner Tahir was introduced into the attack in only the 43rd over. JP Duminy and fast bowler Morne Morkel sat out the match with injuries.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan edged pacer Vernon Philander to first slip in the second over of the day for the first of three catches taken by Amla with the side yet to get off the mark. Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara (31), however, put on 63 for the second wicket with the pair looking good for more before Elgar dismissed Pujara lbw with a straighter delivery.
Rabada took the prized scalp of Virat Kohli in the following over. The Indian captain attempted to play on the onside only to provide a leading edge to cover where Elgar took a low, diving catch.
Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane (15) put on 37 for the fourth wicket as the elegant opener reached his fifty with a boundary off Elgar before the left-arm spinner struck again. He had Rahane edging an attempted drive to be held at first slip by Amla. Elgar then dismissed new man Wriddhiman Saha caught at first slip by Amla with the first delivery of his following over to be on a hat-trick.
Vijay and Jadeja stitched a crucial 38-run stand for the sixth wicket before the opener fell lbw to Harmer while attempting a sweep. An adventurous Mishra (6) was caught at deep mid-on by Dale Steyn off Elgar, while Philander had Jadeja, lbw after previously rapping him a few times on the pads.
Leg-spinner Tahir dismissed Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron with googlies off successive deliveries.
The South African innings began on expected lines with Ashwin opening the bowling and left-arm spinner Jadeja and leg-spinner Amit Mishra being brought on quickly. Off-spinner Ashwin dismissed opener Stiaan van Zyl (5) lbw and Jadeja clean bowled Faf du Plessis (0) in a clear indication of where this Test is headed.