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3rd Test, Day 1: India vs South Africa - As it happened...
Indian spinners scalped two South African wickets after the team was bowled out for just 215 on Day 1 of the third Test match against South Africa.
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Over 9 | Score 11/2 (Elgar 7*, Amla 0*)
After Ashwin, it was Jadeja's turn to strike! The southpaw bowled an arm ball to Tahir, who was completely bamboozled and it crashed into his stumps. Hashim Amla finally came to the crease and played five balls for no run. India would be happy with those two wickets and South Africa have a task up their sleeves to fightback tomorrow.
Imran Tahir b Jadeja 4 (12b)
Over 5 | Score 4/1 (Elgar 4*, Tahir 0*)
Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin began the proceedings for the Indian team and Ashwin struck in his second over when van Zyl edged one towards slips and Rahane took another catch. Imran Tahir has been sent as the night watchman.
S van Zyl c Rahane b Ashwin 0 (7b)
India, 1st innings:
Over 78.2 | Score 215 (Sharma 0*)
Tahir picked his first wicket of the innings when he bowled a googly to Ashwin, the ball as expected went between his bat and pad and crashed into the stumps. In the next over, Harmer trapped Mishra in front of the wicket to take his tally to 4.
R Ashwin b Imran Tahir 15 (44b)
Over 75 | Score 211/8 (Ashwin 13*, Mishra 1*)
After battling for over 100 balls, Saha pushed one towards midwicket where Duminy ran to his left and pulled off a spectacular one-handed catch. A special catch has ended Saha's resilience. Amit Mishra is the new man in. Both Ashwin and Mishra can bat and the team needs them to contribute significantly.
WP Saha c Duminy b Harmer 32 (106b)
Over 70 | Score 190/7 (Saha 27*, Ashwin 5*) Bad news for South Africa. Morkel, who has bowled brilliantly right throughout the day has walked off the field. He might have pulled a hamstring. It happened after he bowled one ball of the 70th over, Tahir completed the rest of the over. South Africa could be in huge trouble if Morkel ends up being seriously injured.
Over 65 | Score 174/7 (Saha 20*, Ashwin 0*)
Jadeja was getting impatient after crossing the 30-run mark. There were a couple of close appeals against him in Rabada's 15th over and Rabada had the final laugh when an inside edge crashed on to the stumps. The wicket ended the 48-run stand between him and Saha. Ashwin is the new man in and his technique is perfect for Test cricket.
RA Jadeja b Rabada 34 (54b)
Over 60 | Score 166/6 (Saha 15*, Jadeja 32*)
Saha and Jadeja continue to frustrate South African bowlers. We all know they are by no means tail-enders, however, they aren't established batsmen in this Indian cricket team as well. However, whatever they are contributing here, is nothing less than gold for Virat Kohli and team. The partnership is now worth 41 runs.
Over 55 | Score 149/6 (Saha 9*, Jadeja 21*)
Saha and Jadeja are adding valuable runs for their team at the moment. Jadeja has played the spinners brilliantly and has not hesitated in going for big strokes. The duo has added unbeaten 24 runs for the seventh-wicket partnership. India need them to convert it into a healthy partnership since they hardly have runs on the board.
Over 48 | Score 127/6 (Saha 7*, Jadeja 1*)
Rohit Sharma was the next batsman to be dismissed by Harmer in what was a bat-pad dismissal. Rohit has missed out on another opportunity, where he could have impressed the selectors. Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in. We have seen some pretty ordinary batting from the Indian batsmen, it remains to be seen whether Jadeja has some entertainment in store for us.
RG Sharma c de Villiers b Harmer 2 (28b)
Over 45 | Score 123/5 (Sharma 2*, Saha 5*)
Saha and Sharma have been very cautious in the last five overs. India are in desperate need of a partnership and these two need to build one.
Over 40 | Score 120/5 (Sharma 0*, Saha 4*)
Morne Morkel is bowling a brilliant spell here. He has dismissed Virat Kohli, who was once again caught behind the wicket trying to play a delivery pitched just outside the off-stump.
Earlier, Morkel picked his second wicket of the match when he bowled Rahane with a brilliant delivery. Once again, Morkel pitched the ball fuller and it swung into the batsmen and uprooted his off-stump. In Steyn's absence, Morkel has bowled brilliant today and he has looked like taking a wicket everytime he has bowled fuller. Rohit Sharma is the next man in. He replaced Varun Aaron for this match and has a chance to show why he deserves to play regularly in the squad. Kohli was replaced by Saha.
V Kohli c Vilas b Morkel 22 (55b)
AM Rahane b Morkel 13 (25b)
Other Indian batsmen might be struggling against spin but this is what Rahane did to Harmer soon after he came to bat:
Over 27 | Score 96/3 (Kohli 13*, Rahane 2*)
South Africa got another big breakthrough post lunch when Simon Harmer trapped Pujara in front of the wicket. Pujara tried to defend the ball off the backfoot but was taken aback by the amount of turn. Ajinkya Rahane is the next man in.
CA Pujara lbw b Harmer 21 (43b)
Over 27 | Score 85/2 (Pujara 18*, Kohli 11*)
LUNCH: Even though South Africa picked two wickets in that session, India would be happy with their performance after wininng the toss. The Proteas would also be very happy, since they got rid of Vijay, who has been a run-machine for India of late. Now Kohli and Pujara have a task up their sleeves to stitch a formidable partnership post lunch.
Over 24 | Score 71/2 (Pujara 14*, Kohli 2*)
India lost the big wicket of Vijay, when he was surprised by a length ball from Morkel, which moved away and hit him on the thighs. Morkel has been rewarded for some excellent bowling to Vijay right throughout this session. Virat Kohli joins Pujara at the crease.
Over 20 | Score 66/1 (Vijay 37*, Pujara 14*)
After Dhawan's departure, Vijay and Pujara are in the process of stitching another partnership. Surprisingly, Amla removed Elgar after he picked the wicket. Elgar has been might impressive and he deserves to get a long spell here. Meanwhile, both the batsman are batting with a positive mindset and are punishing the loose balls.
Over 14 | Score 50/0 (Vijay 35*)
Elgar was once again rewarded for some good bowling as he once again flighted the ball to Dhawan, who took a couple of steps forward, hit it back to the bowler and Elgar took a good catch to get South Africa a crucial breakthrough. Cheteshwar Pujara is the new man in.
S Dhawan c & b Elgar 12 (23b)
Over 11 | Score 57/0 (Vijay 33*, Dhawan 11*)
Vijay got a life in Simon Harmer's first over as he charged down the wicket, the ball spun sharply, Vijay got some part of his body to that and it went for four byes. The keeper was nowhere close to the ball and that was a half-chance for SA. After missing out on that shot, Vijay repeated the shot in the same over and launched it over long-on for a Six! Vijay is in mood to attack the spinners and the crowd should be ready for some entertainment.
Over 5 | Score 17/0 (Vijay 8*, Dhawan 8*)
Morkel and Rabada have bowled well so far. South Africa have come up with a strategy to bowl short to Vijay, who has played them well so far.
Over 1 | Score 1/0 (Vijay 1*, Dhawan 0*)
Morne Morkel to bowl the first over. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan to continue from where they left at Bengaluru. It was a good first over from Morkel, who generated some good speed targetting Vijay's ribs. Vijay got off the mark with a single down the leg side off the last ball.
Playing XI:
South Africa: Stiaan van Zyl, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla(c), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dane Vilas(wk), Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma.
Changes:
For India, Rohit Sharma replaces Varun Aaron, Amit Mishra replaces Stuart Binny
For South Africa, Simon Harmer replaces Kyle Abbott. Dale Steyn is still not fit to play.
TOSS: India won the toss and Virat Kohli chose to bat first
New Delhi: Indian spinners scalped two South African wickets after the team was bowled out for just 215 on Day 1 of the third Test match against South Africa.