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First day report Mohali: Part-time spinner Dean Elgar wreaked havoc on the Indian batting order as South Africa enjoyed the upper hand on the opening of the first Test being played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday. Elgar - better known as an opening batsman - returned figures of 4/22 with his slow left-armers as the hosts were dismissed for 201 in their first innings shortly after tea. [caption id=“attachment_2390210” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File photo of Ravichandran Ashwin. AFP[/caption] The Indians hit back with a couple of early wickets as the Proteas ended the day at 28/2, trailing by 173 runs. Elgar and South African skipper Hashim Amla were at the crease at stumps. Choosing to bat after winning the toss, Indian captain Virat Kohli saw his decison backfire as none of the Indian batsmen could handle the South African bowlers on a wicket which lacked the kind of pace and zip usually seen at this venue. Opener Murali Vijay was the only Indian batsman who showed some amount of application and grit as he battled his way to 75 before being trapped leg before by off-spinner Simon Harper. Elgar, who till now had taken only six wickets in his 17-Test career, proved to be the game changer for the Proteas. Fellow spinner Imran Tahir (2/23) and pacer Vernon Philander (2/38) also bowled well. Off-spinner Simon Harmer (1/51) and fast bowler Kasigo Rabada (1/30) also claimed a wicket each. Experienced fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Philander produced appreciable swing and lateral movement with the new ball to make life difficult for the Indian batsmen. Philander provided the visitors with the early breakthrough when he had Shikhar Dhawan caught by Amla in the slips. Dhawan misjudged the movement of an outgoing delivery as the ball found the edge of the bat for a soft dismissal with the hosts yet to get off the mark. Thereon, Cheteshwar Pujara and Vijay tried to steady the innings with a 63-run second wicket partnership. Pujara seemed to be in good knick as he struck six fluid boundaries. But the introduction of Elgar into the South African attack brought almost immediate results as the left-armer trapped Pujara leg before. It took the South Africans just four more deliveries to clinch another wicket when they dismissed Kohli for 1. The India skipper, who turned 27 on Thursday, did not have a great birthday as he mistimed a delivery from Rabada which went straight to Elgar at cover. Ajinkya Rahane and Vijay were trying to steady India’s ship after a difficult morning but the former attempted to drive a probing delivery from Elgar only to be caught by Amla at slip. Elgar’s next delivery produced another scalp when wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha got out in exactly the same fashion, to be caught by Amla at the same spot for a first-ball duck. By now India had been reduced to 102/5. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (26 not out) struck a few boundaries to strike a 38-run sixth-wicket partnership with Vijay. Vijay had played brilliantly till now but was found leg before wicket by Harmer, only to put India in deeper waters. Amit Mishra only lasted a few overs before lofting it to Dale Steyn at mid-on. Rabada was unlucky to miss out on a wicket when he had Ravichandran Ashwin trapped leg before. Ashwin was on his way back to the pavilion, but the dismissal was overruled by the third umpire who found that Rabada had over-stepped the line after television referrals. The Indians managed some amount of damage control late in the day as South Africa started their first innings on a shaky note. Ashwin struck the first blow when he outfoxed Stiaan van Zyl with a delivery which turned sharply after pitching. Jadeja claimed a big wicket a couple of overs later when Faf du Plesis attempted to leave an incoming delivery only see the ball hit his off-stump. IANS
India vs South Africa, First Test, Day 2 as it happened: Pujara fifty takes India's lead to 142
Live updates from India versus South Africa, first Test, Day two in Mohali
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Over 40: India 125/2 (Pujara 63, Kohli 11)
Tahir to bowl the final over. Pujara immediately gets off strike with a single. Kohli hands it back to him after taking three through midwicket. SIX! Pujara doesn’t mind. It is the googly but it is short from Tahir and Pujara goes all the way back and lofts it over the boundary for the first six of the match. Pujara takes a single from the last ball as well, so he’ll have the strike tomorrow.
Over 39: India 114/2 (Pujara 55, Kohli 8)
Suddenly, a flurry of runs. Rabada tries the bouncer but Kohli gets inside it and pulls it to the fine leg boundary. Rabada almost gets his own back a couple of balls later with one that seamed away. Kohli pokes at it but doesn’t nick it.
Over 38: India 110/2 (Pujara 55, Kohli 4)
Elgar gets a final flurry before the day’s play ends. Instead, Pujara comes down the track and whips him past a diving mid-on to bring up his fifty. Taken him 93 balls and contains just 5 fours. Been a good example of how to bat on this track. Three balls later he forces Elgar through midwicket for a second boundary in the over.
Over 37: India 102/2 (Pujara 47, Kohli 4)
Kohli flicks Rabada throught the legside and scampers a quick two from the second ball. The rest are dot balls.
Over 36: India 100/2 (Pujara 47, Kohli 2)
Tahir, bouyed by that wicket, comes bouncing in again. Pujara and Kohli exchange singles before Pujara goes back and drives Tahir through the offside for a couple to bring up India’s 100.
Over 35: India 96/2 (Pujara 44, Kohli 1)
Rabada continues. Kohli has an indisciplined swish at a wide ball but luckily misses everything. This is not the sort of pitch that suits Kohli. He lies to dominate but on this wicket, he needs to be patient and pick his spots. He can’t be the aggressor he prefers to be. He leaves the final ball – another wide one – well alone.
Over 33.1: India 95/2 (Vijay 47, Pujara 44)
OUT! Stunning from the substitute fielder Bavuma. No fifty for Vijay in the second innings. Tahir spins the googly. Vijay comes forward in defence but the ball turns enough to the inner edge and loops diagonally away from short leg. Bavuma sticks out his left hand at full stretch and clings on to the ball even as he crashed to the ground.
M Vijay c sub (T Bavuma) b Imran Tahir 47 (105b 6×4 0x6)
Over 33: India 95/1 (Vijay 47, Pujara 44)
The first ball from Rabada keeps ankle-height low before a misfield allows Vijay to pick up a single and break Rabada’s streak of dot balls, which had reached 25. A richochet off the stumps from a direct hit allows India another single. Vijay then clips a legstump delivery to deep midwicket for the first earned run off the bat against Rabada.
Over 32: India 92/1 (Vijay 45, Pujara 43)
Pujara moves into the 40s with a top-edged sweep that scampers to the fine leg boundary. He hasn’t looked as comfortable or as sure as Vijay, but he is still there, which is what counts. He drives Tahir thorugh the offside for a couple more. The pitch is not looking as threatening at the moment.
Over 31: India 86/1 (Vijay 45, Pujara 37)
Right on cue, Rabada comes back. He finally gives away runs with a wide legside delivery that whips past the keeper and goes for four byes. But since it was extras – the first of the innings – Rabada doesn’t get credited for them and it is another maiden.
Oh, and India’s lead is now past 100.
Over 30: India 82/1 (Vijay 45, Pujara 37)
Tahir replaces Elgar and two runs are the result.
Over 29: India 80/1 (Vijay 44, Pujara 36)
Philander into his third over of this spell. Not sure why Rabada was taken off after three overs since he hadn’t conceded a run. Perhaps Amla only wants to bowl them in short spells but Rabada was building pressure that has since been released by Elgar. Meanwhile Philander gives away just a single.
Over 28: India 79/1 (Vijay 44, Pujara 35)
Elgar manages to find the edge of Pujara’s bat but the ball has no pace on it and it gets to slip on the bounce. After Pujara picks up two with an inside-edge off an attempted sweep, he rocks back and pulls Elgar to the deep midwicket boundary. That was clinical and brutal.
Over 27: India 72/1 (Vijay 44, Pujara 28)
Philander continues from the other end and Vijay nonchalantly flicks him away for a couple of runs. The rest of the over passes without event. And in case any of you are wondering, according to the speed gun, Philander is bowling at 128 kph.
Over 26: India 70/1 (Vijay 42, Pujara 28)
South Africa start with Elgar after the break. There are 15 overs left in the day so we might be done on time for a change. Vijay picks up two with a clip through backward square leg and then moves to 42 with a glide through point for a single.
Over 25: India 67/1 (Vijay 39, Pujara 28)
Philander is back so currently seam from both ends for the first time today. Pujara flicks the ball away through backward square for a couple. Those are the only runs from the over and it is time for drinks.
Over 24: India 65/1 (Vijay 39, Pujara 26)
Big eyes from Vijay after a full delivery from Rabada keeps low. Vijay was able to get down in time to defend it but it clearly surprised him. A third maiden on the trot for Rabada.
Over 23: India 65/1 (Vijay 39, Pujara 26)
Harmer continues. A thick edge that sends the ball wide of slip allows Vijay to scamper a single and bring up the 50 partnership. Harmer switches back over-the-wicket after that. This time Pujara is able to work him through the legside for a single.
Woah! Vijay charges Harmer and lofts him sweetly over extra-cover to pick up four. He is looking good, is Vijay. India need by 82 now.
Over 22: India 58/1 (Vijay 33, Pujara 25)
A strangled appeal from Rabada after Pujara edges the ball onto pad. Rabada gets some bounce out of the pitch too. Another maiden over.
Over 21: India 58/1 (Vijay 33, Pujara 25)
Pujara finally succeeds by coming down the track. Drives Harmer powerfully past mid-off for four. He went offside instead of legside this time. A single from the fourth ball allows him to keep strike.
Over 20: India 53/1 (Vijay 33, Pujara 20)
Rabada finally gets the ball. There is some seam movement into the right-hander but doesn’t always get the line right. Couple of deliveries slide harmlessly down legside. A maiden to start with.
Over 19: India 53/1 (Vijay 33, Pujara 20)
Pujara uses his feet aain but can’t get the ball away. The last ball of the over is the straighter one and it beats Pujara completely but the outside edge doesn’t carry to first slip. Pujara played for the turn. A maiden over but so nearly a wicket-maiden.
Over 18: India 53/1 (Vijay 33, Pujara 20)
Vijay works Tahir away for a single to bring up India’s 50. The sparse crowd in existance applauds. Pujara then dabs a legbreak practically out of the hands of slip and picks up three to third man. The slip fielder does well to chase the ball down and prevent the boundary.
Over 17: India 49/1 (Vijay 32, Pujara 17)
Harmer switches to bowling round -the-wicket in a bid to make something happen. In response, Vijay takes a big stride forward in defence and presents the full face of the bat.
Over 16: India 48/1 (Vijay 31, Pujara 17)
Slip and short leg for Tahir. He rips a googly that cramps Pujara for room as he tried to cut. Tahir spins the googly a lot more than the legbreak . India manage three singles from the over.
Over 15: India 45/1 (Vijay 29, Pujara 16)
Just a single from Harmer’s over. Pujara tried to come down the track and work him through the legside a couple of times but couldn’t piece the field.
Over 14: India 44/1 (Vijay 28, Pujara 16)
We have first Tahir sighting. Pujara is on strike. He defends the first few deliveries before working one through midwicket for two. Those are the only runs from the over. Not much turn for Tahir so far.
Over 13: India 42/1 (Vijay 28, Pujara 14)
Harmer continues. Vijay chips down and gently pushes the ball past the bowler and it races away to the boundary. Nobody thought that ball was going for four until it did. A couple of singles makes it six from the over.
Over 12: India 36/1 (Vijay 23, Pujara 13)
Pujara absolutely hammers a full toss from Elgar to the wide long-on boundary. That made it eight runs from the over. These two appear to be settling in, well, as much as anyone can settle in on this pitch.
Over 11: India 28/1 (Vijay 22, Pujara 6)
Vijay paddle sweeps Harmer’s first ball for a boundary. He has been the most composed batsman on either side in this Test. Seems to have a clear idea of what he wants to do and the confidence to execute it. There’s no hesistancy in his stroke-play, in defence or attack.
Over 10: India 24/1 (Vijay 18, Pujara 6)
A maiden from Elgar. There was no pace on the ball for Pujara to use to his advantage and he had to watch out for the one that keeps low.
Over 9: India 24/1 (Vijay 18, Pujara 6)
Spin from both ends now as Harmer replaces Philander. He gets plenty of turn right away so after a couple of deliveries, Vijay chips down the track and takes a single to long-on. After one delivery keeps low, Pujara manages to get the ball away to third man and pick up three runs.
Over 8: India 20/1 (Vijay 17, Pujara 3)
Vijay dances down the track to Elgar’s first ball and pushes it to long-off for a single. Best not to be on strike on this pitch. After a single to Pujara, Vijay picks up four to third man when Philander gets his feet in a tangle and kicks the ball over the boundary.