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1st Test, India vs South Africa: As it happened...
Live updates from Day 1 of the first Test match between India and South Africa being played at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, Chandigarh.
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First day of the opening Test between India and South Africa belonged to the visiting team as their spinners ran through the Indian batting line-up to bundle them for a paltry total of 201. Part-time left-arm tweaker Dean Elgar bagged four wickets to emerge as the most successful bowler of the day. For India opener Murali Vijay played a crucial knock of 75 runs as remained the highest scorer for his side. However, Indian spinners too picked up two early wickets to make the match quite interesting.
Over 20 | Score 28/2 | (Elgar 13*, Amla 9*)
In last twenty overs of the day, India managed to take two wickets. Jadeja and Ashwin shared one wicket apiece as South Africa managed to score 28 runs at stumps of day one. Skipper Amla and Elagar are unbeaten at the crease with 9 and 12 runs respectively.
Over 15 | Score 25/2 | (Elgar 11*, Amla 8*)
Kohli has juggled his bowlers well thus far. But biggest surprise is that Kohli is not throwing the ball to his premier spinner R Ashwin. The home team has to get wickets at regular intervals as they haven't score a big total in their first innings. Amla and Elgar are playing sensible cricket in the middle and are not looking in a hurry. Kohli has set a aggressive field for two.
Over10 | Score 16/2 | (Elgar 1*, Zyl 5*)
Ashwin was supposed to be India's main weapon in the Test series and he rightly got the first wicket of the series for India when he trapped van Zyl in front of the wicket. Faf du Plessis was the next man in and his stay wasn't long as Ravindra Jadeja took just two balls to pick his first wicket of the Test series! It was an arm ball by him, and such was the length that even his CSK team-mate du Plessis was bamboozled and the ball crashed on to the stumps! India are in the driver's seat now!
F du Plessis b Jadeja 0 (4b)
S van Zyl lbw b Ashwin 5 (23b)
Over 5 | Score 7/0 | (Elgar 1*, Zyl 5*)
Ravichandran Ashwin opened the bowling for India in the second innings. Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl opened the innings for South Africa and they have adopted a cautious approach so far.
India, 1st innings: (Vijay 75*, Elgar 22/4)
Over 68 | Score 201/10 | (Ashwin 20*)
Imran Tahir, who was nowhere to be seen in the first few sessions, bowled two brilliant googlies to dismiss Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron. After winning a crucial toss, India have been bundled out for just 201 and they would be gutted with this performance.
Philander finally got his man Jadeja, with a similar delivery where he pitched it in line and it swung into the batsman and the umpire was finally convinced. Umesh Yadav was the next man in and got off the mark with a powerful hit past midwicket for a boundary. But unfortunately, he couldn't hit a a big knock today.
VR Aaron b Imran Tahir 0 (3b)
UT Yadav b Imran Tahir 5 (7b)
RA Jadeja lbw b Philander 38 (92b)
Over 65 | Score 194/7 | (Jadeja 38*, Ashwin 18*)
Jadeja survived a close lbw shout against Philander's bowling. He has played some sensible strokes today and this could be a remarkable comeback from the left-hander. Ashwin, as expected, is showing his class as a batsman once again.
Over 60 | Score 180/7 | (Jadeja 32*, Ashwin 10*)
Ashwin and Jadeja continue to contribute useful runs for India. They have so far added unbeaten 26 runs for the eighth-wicket partnership. There are not enough runs on the board and these two need to keep going.
Over 55 | Score 168/7 | (Jadeja 26*, Ashwin 4*)
TEA: India looked like they lost another wicket, of Ashwin against Rabada, but the lbw call came off a frontfoot no-ball. Both these players have the potential to add useful runs for the team and in the break, the team management would possibly remind them about it.
Over 51 | Score 154/7 | (Jadeja 17*, Ashwin 0*)
Ever since he came to the crease, Mishra was looking to bat in ODI mode. He paid the price for it as he shimmied down the track against Elgar and gifted him another wicket. That's pathetic batting from Mishra unless he was asked to counter-attack by the Indian think-tank. Ashwin, who has played several decent knocks for India in Tests in the past, is the next man in and we still don't know why has he been sent after Mishra.
Over 47 | Score 140/6 | (Jadeja 9*, Mishra 0*)
Harmer, who had turned the ball right throughout the day, bagged the prized wicket of Murali Vijay who was trapped in front of the wicket while attempting a sweep shot. Jadeja has had a great outing in the current Ranji season and he needs to show that he deserves to play at the highest level. Amit Mishra is the new man in and he too can bat. Surprisingly, Ashwin is yet to come.
M Vijay lbw b Harmer 75 (136b)
Over 42 | Score 118/5 | (Vijay 61*, Jadeja 3*)
Wriddhiman Saha was the next man in and he didn't trouble the scorers as Elgar picked his third wicket of the match. He pitched one full to Saha and even though it wasn't as good a delivery he bowled to Rahane, it was good enough dismiss Saha, who looked nervous while playing that stroke. While wickets are tumbling from one end, Vijay has reached yet another brilliant half-century. After a terrific Ranji season, Jadeja has been brought back into the squad and he should silence his critics with a gutsy knock here. Elgar, meanwhile, has bowled brilliantly.
WP Saha c Amla b Elgar 0 (1b)
Over 38 | Score 82/4 | (Vijay 48*)
Elgar was brought back into the attack in the 38th over of the innings and he bowled a gem of a delivery to Rahane which had beautiful flight, Rahane was lured to drive and the edge was taken by Amla in the slip cordon. Time and again, you can watch that dismissal and whisper – 'What A Ball!' Another Indian batsmen bites the dust after getting a good start.
AM Rahane c Amla b Elgar 15 (48b)
Over 31 | Score 82/3 | (Vijay 44*, Rahane 9*)
Steyn and Philander resumed the proceedings for South Africa post lunch. Vijay and Rahane are two batsmen who have done well for India in the Tests over the last one year, and they once again have a task here to stitch a formidable partnership.
Over 27 | Score 82/3 | (Vijay 40*, Rahane 3*)
South Africa would be happy with that session after losing the toss. Not that the South African bowlers have bowled extremely well, it's the poor shot-making from the Indian batsmen which has cost the badly. Vijay, once again, looks the most settled batsman and he must go on to hit another big knock after getting the start.
Over 23 | Score 69/3 | (Vijay 30*, Rahane 0*)
Guess what, India have lost Kohli! The skipper was possibly beaten for pace there, the ball kept low and Kohli mistimed it towards short cover where Elgar held on to an excellent low catch. The hosts are in a spot of bother here. Ajinkya Rahane is the new man in.
V Kohli c Elgar b Rabada 1 (4b)
Over 22 | Score 64/2 | (Vijay 30*, Kohli 1*)
Dean Elgar was introduced in the 23rd over of the innings and he took just four balls to pick his first wicket. He bowled one to Pujara, which didn't turn and he was trapped in front of the wicket. That's a huge blow for India considering one of their Test specialists has been dismissed by one of South Africa's part-timers. That wicket also ended 63-run stand between Vijay and Pujara. In comes Virat Kohli, on his 27th birthday.
CA Pujara lbw b Elgar 31 (66b)
Over 17 | Score 51/1 | (Vijay 27*, Pujara 24*)
Vijay and Pujara have added unbeaten 50 runs for the second wicket. Harmer has bowled well so far and Rabada has been bowling from the other end. Amla might soon bring Tahir into the attack as well.
Over 13 | Score 38/1 | (Vijay 25*, Pujara 13*)
Amla introduced spin in the 13th over of the innings with Simon Harmer. Vijay charged down the wicket off the fourth ball and flicked it over midwicket for a boundary. There was a loud lbw appeal made off the last ball but the umpire wasn't interested. Time for drinks for the players.
Over 8 | Score 18/1 | (Vijay 5*, Pujara 13*)
A more cautious approach from these two batsmen in the last three overs. Philander continues to bowl well, Steyn yet to find his complete rhythm.
Over 5 | Score 13/1 | (Vijay 4*, Pujara 9*)
Vijay created an opportunity for South Africa, when he decided to cut the last ball of the third over, which was very wide, he went for it and it flew just over the fielder at gully. Steyn bowled a length ball to Pujara in the fifth over which was hit past midwicket for Pujara's second boundary. Philander has bowled much better that Steyn so far.
Over 2 | Score 4/1 | (Vijay 0*, Pujara 4*)
South Africa got an early breakthrough as Philander pitched a wide bouncer to Dhawan, who went after it, edged it and Amla at first slip took a clean catch. There was a loud appeal off the previous ball for a lbw. Pujara is the new man in he got off the mark with a drive off the frontfoot off the last ball which went for a boundary. Pujara once again needs to show what a terrific player he is in the traditional format of the game.
S Dhawan c Amla b Philander 0 (4b)
Squads:
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla (c), AB de Villiers, Dane Vilas (wk), Vernon Philander, Simon Harmer, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir
Kagiso Rabada, who was extremely impressive in limited-overs cricket against India, will make his Test debut today.
Toss: Virat Kohli spun it, won the toss and decided to bat first.
Players India have left out: Ishant Sharma (injured), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Stuart Binny
Mohali: Dean Elgar has put South Africa in the driver's seat by picking key wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha.