2nd Test: India dominate Day 1 against South Africa in Bengaluru

After bundling out South Africa for just 214, Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay put on a solid unbroken partnership of 80 during the first day of the second Test match in Bengaluru on 14 November.

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The Indians once again dominated the day with disciplined bowling and excellent batting from Murali Vijay (28) and Shikhar Dhawan (45).

Earlier, once again South Africa succumbed to the guiles of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin and are bundled out for 214.

Ravichandran Ashwin (4 for 70) and Ravindra Jadeja (4 for 50) once again spun South African batsmen out. Varun Aaron took the crucial wicket of Hashim Amla.

AB de Villiers stood tall amidst ruins in his 100th appearance as Indian spinners dominated the proceedings, reducing South Africa to a miserable 177 for seven at tea.

De Villiers was out off the last delivery before tea after scoring a stylish 85 off 105 balls with 11 boundaries and a six. It was Wriddhiman Saha, who effected a brilliant catch running forward off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling.

Ravichandran Ashwin (3/53) and Jadeja (3/36) shared the bulk of spoils as most of the Proteas batsmen were out playing poor shots.

More than turn on offer from the pitch, it was execution that brought downfall of Hashim Amla and Co as De Villiers showed his teammates how to negotiate a sub-continental track.

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 boundary off his hips off Aaron.

When Ashwin dropped one short, he rocked back and smacked it through the square leg region as they went into lunch at 78 for three.

The standout shot came in the post lunch session in the form of an off-drive off Ishant Sharma's bowling. It was played with effortless ease. Later when he was in his 70's, he clobbered Ishant over extra cover for another boundary.

India's fastest bowler Aaron was also hit for back to back boundaries. First a juicy full toss was dispatched through covers and then bisected one through the region between point and gully.

De Villiers then square cut Aaron for his eighth boundary. He glided one from Ashwin towards backward square leg region to complete his 38th Test half century in 59 balls.

When Jadeja tried to flight one, he used quick footwork to good effect as he cover drove the left-arm spinner for a boundary.

He was unruffled at one end despite losing partners at the other end.

The partnerships he had for the 4th, 5th and 6th wicket stands were 33 with Dean Elgar (38), 42 with JP Duminy (15) and 39 with Dane Vilas (15). None of them could show the gumption for a fight as South Africa's premier batsman fought a lonely battle.

It was Ashwin, who was undoubtedly the best Indian bowler on view. The Tamil Nadu tweaker was introduced into the attack in the 8th over after Stuart Binny hardly troubled the openers after being entrusted with the duty of sharing the new ball with Ishant.

Ashwin immediately got into the act with twin strikes in his very first over. It took him only two balls to draw first blood for India. He flighted one that straightened after pitching and caught opener Stiaan van Zyl (10) plumb in-front.

Faf du Plessis (0) wanted to use his feet as Ashwin altered the length but as he came down and tried to whip one, Cheteshwar Pujara at short-leg took a reflex catch crouching low, reducing the visitors to 15 for two in 8 overs. While third umpire adjudged it as clean catch, TV replays showed that part of the ball was touching the ground.

Skipper Hashim Amla (7) and Elgar tried to do some repair work as they added 30 runs in which the left handed opener hit a straight six off Ashwin.

However Aaron, who came in as the second change struck in his third over to compound Amla's misery. The South African captain played inside the line to a delivery that did not shape in enough and in the process knocked the off-stump back to make it 45 for three.

The post lunch session had started on a bright note for India as Ravindra Jadeja struck with the second ball after lunch as Dean Elgar (38), who looked like putting up a resistance dragged one onto his stumps trying a sweep shot.

It was at 78 for four that Duminy joined De Villiers as the two experienced players took the score to 100 in the 32nd over.

But Ashwin got his third victim when Duminy (15) edged an off-break to Ajinkya Rahane standing as lone slip. The stand yielded 42 runs off 66 balls but was nothing compared to what was expected from the left-hander as his team was tottering at 120 for five.

Vilas played some strokes trying to break the shackle but didn't last long offering a straightforward return catch to give Jadeja his second wicket. The Proteas were 159 for six. It became seven when de Villiers was finally dismissed.

-PTI