Proteas’ pace rattles India

Cape Town: India started strongly on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Newlands on Friday, but finished in disarray after a ferocious onslaught by the home team’s fast bowlers.

India were 28/3 at the close — with skipper Virat Kohli amongst the victims — after bowling out the hosts for 286.

It was a remarkable turnaround after South Africa had been reduced to 12/3 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar inside the first half hour.

Counter-attacking batting, led by aggressive half-centuries by AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, and some wayward bowling by India enabled South Africa to make a reasonable total on a lively pitch.

Then the South African fast bowlers struck.

Vernon Philander had Murali Vijay caught at gully and four balls later Dale Steyn, playing his first Test match in more than a year, caught Shikhar Dhawan off his own bowling when Dhawan’s attempted pull steepled high into the air.

The biggest prize fell to Morne Morkel, who came on as first change and produced a sharply-lifting delivery which India captain Virat Kohli edged to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock after making just five.

 Earlier, India bowlers led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued to get breakthroughs despite attacking batting from South Africa as the hosts were reduced to 230/7 at tea.

Debutant Jasprit Bumrah (1/60 in 13 overs) and young Hardik Pandya (1/37 in 9 overs) removed the dangerous pair of AB de Villiers (65) and skipper Faf du Plessis (62) in quick succession after their whirlwind 114-run stand to give the visitors an upperhand after the second session.

The dangerous Quinton de Kock (43) was removed by Bhuvneshwar (4/68 in 14 overs) and the Proteas looked uncomfortable despite maintaining a healthy run-rate of 4.33 across the 53 overs that has been bowled over two sessions.

Keshav Maharaj was unbeaten on 23 runs alongside Kagiso Rabada (0 not out) at the break. Post lunch, de Villiers and Du Plessis brought up their 100-partnership for the fourth wicket off 134 balls.

Bumrah got his maiden scalp in de Villiers as he angled one in which breached the defence of the former skipper after taking an inside edge of his bat.

Scorecard

South Africa (1st innings): Dean Elgar c Saha b Bhuvneshwar 0, Aiden Markram lbw b Bhuvneshwar 5, Hashim Amla c Saha b Bhuvneshwar 3, AB de Villiers b Bumrah 65, Faf du Plessis c Saha b Pandya 62, Quinton de Kock c Saha b Bhuvneshwar 43, Vernon Philander b Shami 23, Keshav Maharaj (run out) Ashwin 35, Kagiso Rabada c Saha b Ashwin 26, Dale Steyn (not out) 16, Morne Morkel lbw b Ashwin 2. Extras: (b2, lb3, nb1) 6. Total: (in 73.1 overs) 286.
FoW: 1-0, 2-7, 3-12, 4-126, 5-142, 6-202, 7-221, 8-258, 9-280.
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar 19-4-87-4, Shami 16-6- 47-1, Bumrah 19-1-73-1 (1nb),  Pandya 12-1-53-1, Ashwin 7.1-1-21-2.
India (1st innings): M. Vijay c Elgar b Philander 1, S. Dhawan c&b Steyn 16, C. Pujara (batting) 5, V. Kohli c de Kock b Morkel 5, R. Sharma (batting) 0. Extras: (lb1) 1. Total: (for 3 wkts, in 11 overs) 28.
FoW: 1-16, 2-18, 3-27.
Bowling: Philander 4-1-13-1, Steyn 4-1-13-1, Morkel 2-2-0-1, Rabada 1-0-1-0.