India win toss, South Africa bat first in second test

The current set of Indian openers – Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan – by order of experience seem to be finding the form that the team needs most.

India were by far the dominant side on day one of the second Test in Bangalore, as they bowled South Africa for 214 and then added 80 runs of their own without loss by stumps.

India is on the driver’s seat after ending day 1 at 80/0 after bundling out South Africa for 214 in the first innings.

De Villiers, who went to lunch unbeaten on 19, brought up South Africa’s 100 with a superb cover drive off fast bowler Varun Aaron and reached his half-century with a single off Ashwin.

Ravichandran Ashwin (4 for 70) and Ravindra Jadeja (4 for 50) once again spun South African batsmen out.

“It’s fairly troublesome to bat up entrance with the brand new ball however we might in all probability have batted first as nicely”.

Spinners Ravi Ashwin (4/70) and Ravi Jadeja (4/50) picked up four wickets each as the Proteas continue to struggle on the turning pitches in India. When he danced down the wicket to Jadeja in the last over before tea, he too was found taking defensive action.

Ashwin’s fifth delivery sent back a scoreless Faf du Plessis, who charged down the track only to flick it to short leg where Cheteshwar Pujara pouched the ball.

At the break, Kyle Abbott was not out without scoring as South Africa tottered against spin bowlers Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

The ball was hitting the middle stump. None of them could show the gumption for a fight as South Africa’s premier batsman fought a lonely battle. The Chennai off-spinner struck the first blow when left-handed opener van Zyl was trapped leg bofore with a straight delivery. It became 177 for seven at the stroke of tea as De Villiers was dismissed.

The Proteas were never able to put a decent partnership together, their best being the 42 for the fifth wicket between De Villiers and JP Duminy. Imran Tahir provided the exclamation mark to South Africa’s day of horror, dropping M Vijay on 21.