India v South Africa 1st Test day 1 review: Elgar show steals the day from the hosts

India v South Africa 1^st Test day 1 review: Elgar show steals the day from the hosts: Mohali witnessed a Dean Elgar show, as South Africa packed the Indian line up for 201 in the opening day of the 1^st Test match. Murali Vijay top-scored for India with 75, courtesy 12 sublime boundaries.

The Indian batting line up was struggling to read Elgar’s craft at one stage, as the man with a golden arm was on a hat-trick.

Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara chipped in with fruitful contributions with 38 and 31 respectively. Dean Elgar, the batting specialist triggered a shake, as India kept on losing wickets at the regular wicket. Jadeja looked promising from that start, coming back from a phenomenal Ranji season, the all-rounder was in a damage control mode.

Kagiso Rabada playing his first Test match, picked the rhythm from where he had left. He picked up the all important Indian captain Virat Kohli’s wicket. Kohli coming at no 4, looked unsettled. He soon loses his wicket after facing 5 balls.

India lost momentum early on, as Shikhar Dhawan got out to Philander in the second over of the match.

Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha both got out with the scoreboard reading 102, as India sensed trouble. The Indian wicket-keeper failed to open his account, as Amla took an easy catch off Elgar.

South Africa bowled in a disciplined manner, as they only conceded 10 extras.

Imran Tahir, who was instrumental in South Africa winning the T20 and ODI series, scalped Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron in quick succession. Ravichandran Ashwin, who was sidelined in the shorter format due to an injury, came back into the fold. He scored an unbeaten 20 from 42 balls, before India were bowled out for 201 in 68 overs.

South Africa in reply, lost Van Zyl early; with Ashwin trapping the opener in front.

Faf du Plessis came in with the scoreboard reading 9-1.

The man in form, Ravindra Jadeja bowled one that turned back in to disturb Faf’s stumps, as the visitors were two wickets down for 9 on the board. Faf du Plessis went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, while Indian celebrated.

Elgar and  Hashim Amla played out 20 overs to see the day through, as umpires called it stumps.

South Africa were two wickets down with 28 on the board, as Amla is unbeaten on 9 and Elgar not out on 13.

Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin shared one wicket each, as the visitors trail India by 173 runs at the end of 1^st days play.

Brief Scores

India 201 (Vijay 75, Jadeja 38, Elgar 4-22)

South Africa 28-2 ( Elgar 13*, Ashwin 1-4, Jadeja 1-7)

South Africa trail by 173 runs with 8 wickets remaining.