India v South Africa: Ravichandran Ashwin spearheads fightback

India’s Murali Vijay bats on the first day of the first Test against South Africa in Mohali on N …

With the track providing unusual assistance to the spinners nearly from the first session, there were doubts whether the Test could last till the fourth afternoon.

The hosts went to stumps on 2 for 125 in their second knock to take an overall lead of 142 runs with eight wickets in hand in conditions that are tailor-made for the bowlers. “Honestly it’s the batting that makes the wicket look what it is”.

India got rid of the South Africa all-rounder with scoreboard reading 85 for 3 in 37.4 overs.

All the three Indian spinners accounted for the 10 South African wickets, with Ashwin emerging as the destroyer-in-chief with 5/51 in 24 overs.

Luckily for India, there were two batsmen – Murali Vijay and Ravindra Jadeja – who did a reasonably decent job. Ashwin had a few words for Elgar as he walked back.

The 29-yr-previous, who had dismissed Stiaan van Zyl the earlier night, despatched again Elgar after the opening batsman had stored India at bay for seventy five minutes together with Amla. Elgar bowled one that went with his arm and trapped Pujara leg-before for 31.

Kohli, who celebrates his 27th birthday on Thursday, said it will be a special day when he takes field in his first home Test as captain. I just tried to land the ball on that area.

India captain Virat Kohli was unbeaten on eleven. Pankaj Roy, Farokh Engineer, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag are the other Indian openers to hold the dubious distinction of having achieved this feat. Alma made 47 runs from 97 balls and reached the fence six times. I am not just a batsman, not many people know it, but now they do. He opened up only in the latter part of his innings and was out while going for a sweep against Simon Harmer.

He first had Amla stumped after deceiving him in the flight.

Vernon Philander, Dean Elgar and newcomer Kagiso Rabada each claimed a wicket to contain India after it elected to bat on a dry pitch.

Elgar returned in his next over to dismiss wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha for a first ball duck before Jadeja (38) saw off the hat-trick delivery.

Skipper Hashim Amla kept juggling his pace and spin options in the final session of play but suddenly the devil in the pitch at the IS Bindra Stadium seemed to have disappeared as both Vijay and Pujara counter-attacked effectively. Rabada not out 1, Imran Tahir c Pujara b Ashwin 4.

When the day started, there was a bit of MS Dhoni in Virat Kohli’s captaincy as he started with Umesh Yadav and Amit Mishra.