Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja continued to torment South Africa as they scalped four wickets each to skittle out the visitors for a paltry 214 and give India an early control of the second cricket Test, here today.
Ashwin (4/70) was the best bowler on view even though Jadeja (4/50) had better figures to show for his efforts as the hosts exploited the favourable conditions even as AB de Villiers scored a valiant 85 in his landmark 100th Test.
Once De Villiers was out off the last delivery before tea, mopping up the tail was a mere formality for India.
It was Wriddhiman Saha, who took a brilliant catch running forward off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling to bring an end to the dangerous De Villiers’ stay.
In reply, India raced to 80 in 22 overs at stumps on the opening day with Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan remaining unbeaten on 28 and 45 respectively. India are now 134 runs behind South Africa’s first innings score.
Vijay looked in deft touch as he hit five boundaries in 73 balls with some lovely drives on the up off Kyle Abbott.
He got reprieve on 21 when Imran Tahir dropped him at square leg off Morne Morkel’s bowling.
Dhawan, who bagged a ‘pair’ in the first Test, seemed more assured as he played crisp strokes hitting seven fours in 62 balls.
Earlier, more than turn on offer from the pitch, it was poor shot execution that brought downfall of Hashim Amla and Co. as De Villiers showed how to play on a sub—continental track.
Most of the South African batsmen while facing Jadeja and Ashwin played for the turn while most of the deliveries straightened after pitching or moved in with the angle.
De Villiers came out to a standing ovation from the Chinnaswamy crowd with the now familiar chants of ‘ABD ABD’ reverberating across the stands.
With Aaron working up good pace, it was some anxious time for the South Africans as 50 came up in the 17th over. De Villiers’ first release shot was a flicked boundary off his hips off Aaron’s bowling. When Ashwin dropped one short, he rocked back and smacked it through square leg region as they went into lunch at 78 for three.