Spin-heavy India opt to bat in third test against South Africa

Indian batsmen capitulated meekly against both pace and spin to be shot out for 215 before hitting back at South Africa with two early scalps on Day One of the third and penultimate Test here on Wednesday.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had opener Stiaan van Zyl caught in the slips for a duck before nightwatchman Imran Tahir was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for four.

India captain Virat Kohli had no hesitation in opting to bat first after winning the toss at the VCA Stadium with the pitch expected to assist the slow bowlers.

Despite dominating the first day’s play against India with the hosts bowled out for 215 during the final session of play, South Africa were dealt the blow of fast bowler Morne Morkel limping off late in proceedings.

Morkel then had skipper Virat Kohli caught behind by Dane Vilas for 22 and Harmer had Rohit Sharma caught at short-leg for two to have the hosts reeling on 125-6. But soon after their 50-run opening stand, left-arm spinner Dean Elgar brought about the early breakthrough by dismissing Dhawan inside 15 overs. First day will be the best to bat on and we are going to bat first.

India went into the match with three spinners; Amit Mishra, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jadeja.

Legspinner Imran Tahir picked up his second five-wicket haul in tests to spearhead South Africa’s fightback as India were all out for 173 in their second innings to set the world’s top-ranked test side a 310-run target for a series-levelling win. Apart from M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja, none have yet faced 100 balls in the series.

Harmer was the best bowler on display with four wickets while the stricken Morkel had three to his name.

Post Tea session was good for India as R Jadeja and W Saha played some good innings but they lost their wickets as well.

Once Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, South Africa’s two most experienced batsmen, departed in the space of two overs, the Proteas task of overhauling the Indian total turned from improbable to nearly impossible.

Morkel came back for his second spell by changing ends to trap the opener bang in front with a full length ball that kept a bit low and struck the pads as the batsman tentatively pushed forward.

With South Africa trailing 0-1 in the four-Test rubber, Amla conceded the team’s batting has failed to click, while hoping for a turnaround in this Orange City.

But India batting coach Sanjay Bangar felt the batsmen applied themselves well, and the Saha-Jadeja stand could prove decisive.

South Africa got off to a nervy start as Ishant Sharma (0-4) found the edge of Elgar (7 not out), which did not carry to Saha behind the stumps.