SA v IND 2018: 1st Test, Day 1 – South Africa end the day on top after Bhuvneshwar’s initial strikes; India lose 3 including Kohli

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 4 wickets.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 4 wickets for India

South Africa managed to get on top of India by the end of the day, despite a great start by the Indian team at the start.

South Africa won the toss, Faf decided to bat and we saw the return of Dale Steyn in the team and AB de Villiers kept his place in the playing XI at the cost of Temba Bavuma. India, on the other hand, gave a surprise debut to Jasprit Bumrah and dropped Rahane in favor of Rohit Sharma.

However, the first impact of the Test was made by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who sent Dean Elgar back in the first over for a duck. He then accounted for Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla leaving South Africa tottering for 12/3.

But Faf du Plessis (62) and AB de Villiers (65) played a brilliant counterattacking game and added 114 runs for the 4th wicket. Jasprit Bumrah knocked De Villiers over to get his first wicket in Tests and Pandya had Du Plessis caught by Saha.

Morne Morkel hurt India the most by dismissing Virat Kohli

The real frustration for Team India started here as Quinton de Kock (43), Vernon Philander (23), Keshav Maharaj (35) and Kagiso Rabada (26) added useful runs down the order, as Indian bowlers tore their hair out. India’s shoddy catching in slips didn’t help the bowlers’ cause as Dhawan dropped Maharaj on a duck and he ended up taking South Africa to 286.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended up with 4/87 and R Ashwin took 2/21.

India needed to play 14 overs to see the day off, and Dhawan started on a positive note. But Philander removed Vijay for 1, Steyn had Dhawan removed for 16 and Kohli’s problems outside the off stump resurfaced, as Morkel had him caught behind the wicket for 5 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma kept the South African bowlers at bay till the end of the day.

BRIEF SCORES:

SOUTH AFRICA 286 (AB de VILLIERS 65, F du PLESSIS 62; B KUMAR 4/87)
INDIA 28/3 (S DHAWAN 16; M MORKEL 0/1)
India trails by 258 runs with 7 wickets in hand.

 

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 05 Jan, 2018

    Share Via