Mohali: As South Africa spinners wrecked havoc with the Indian batting line-up in their second innings of the first Test here, captain Virat Kohli on Thursday said it was “errors in shot selection” rather than turn, which led to their collapse.
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Chasing a tricky 218-run target, the visitors failed to read the pitch and its turn. South Africa will be desperately hoping for Steyn to take the field tomorrow in order to stage a comeback in the game.
Both Ashwin and Jadeja bagged a five-for in the first and second innings respectively and the spin troika, including Amit Mishra, bagged 19 wickets in the match.
He was well assisted by fellow tweakers Ravindra Jadeja (3-55) and Amit Mishra (2-55).
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin today ridiculed the media attention on the pitch for the first Test, saying most of the batsmen got out by playing bad shots.
Earlier, paceman Vernon Philander sent back opener Shikhar Dhawan (zero) before India had even got on the scoreboard when he edged one to Amla at slip in the second over of the day. South Africa was 45-5 in the 17th over at the fall of Elgar’s wicket with the result looking quite evident.
Only Dean Elgar (37, 2x4s), Hashim Amla (43, 6x4s) and top scorer AB de Villiers (63, 6x4s) could faced the Indian spinners confidently. “Anything can happen because there is a lot of time left in the match”.
The two teams will now travel to Bengaluru for the second Test, beginning November 14. Only Van Zyl (36) offered any resistance as the Proteas were reduced to 60 for 6.
Earlier, the Indian batsmen, too, were victims of spin bowling.
“In the three Ranji games, we decided to make spinning tracks at home as other teams had good pacers”.
For the hosts, Cheteshwar Pujara (63 not out) and Virat Kohli (11 batting) were at the crease at the end of Day 2.
The match brought only three half-centuries and only one India managed to pass 200. It was much the same in the second innings, with just two players this time – Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl – managing more than 60 minutes out in the middle.
On a track that was massively assisting the spinners from the very first session, a dozen wickets fell on the opening day, followed by another 10 on Day II.
The visitors never looked like settling down, losing wickets at regular intervals to hand the hosts the advantage. After that it was a procession as wickets tumbled in a jiffy. He was caught to a lovely diving catch by substitute Temba Bavuma at short leg, off legspinner Imran Tahir. “Now South Africa have a few pressure as Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn are injured”, Wassan said.
The session then saw a 34-run seventh-wicket partnership before Simon Harmer (7) departed, trapped LBW off Mishra. Not done yet, Harmer struck again to get Mishra out for 2.
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Four balls later, Jadeja took a fine running catch at backward point to get rid of Dane Vilas and reduce the Proteas to 107-5. “I looked at my landing and pulled my self back because such things can cost you the match”, he said when asked about the incident. From the South African corner, they would have loved one that didn’t test their skills as much as the one at Mohali has done.
