SA VS IND 1ST TEST

Got to give credit where it's due to the South African bowlers. Sure, they only got one wicket, but they made run-scoring a proper grind. With the light fading and the ball doing a bit, they kept things tight and when the spinners were brought on, the scoring was further clamped down before the umpires felt it wasn't safe to play under deteriorating lights. Okay then, the absorbing first day of this opening Test of the Freedom Trophy has flown by. India holds the dominance right now, winning two sessions, but cricket is all about sustaining the momentum. The Proteas will aim to get quick wickets when they come afresh to bowl on the second day. They need wickets in clusters as 159 is, on any pitch, a bit too under par. For the Indians, it is all about consolidating and forming partnerships, which the Saffas clearly lacked. It is all set up for an enticing day ahead. Day 2 begins on Saturday, 15th November, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT). Join us then. Take care, cheers!

India's Mohammed Siraj is in for a chat with the broadcasters. He says the new ball was coming nicely onto the bat with not a lot of swing on offer, but once the ball got older, it stayed low, and they looked to attack the stumps. Mentions that he found reverse swing, which made the stump-to-stump line very effective, bringing LBW, bowled, and even the catching option at mid-wicket into play. Shares that Shubman Gill was going to take him out of the attack, but he requested one more over and got a couple of wickets in that over. States that from one end, the ball kept low, and he feels the pacers are going to enjoy bowling from that end throughout the match. Siraj feels his side is in a good position, considering the way they pulled things back after the strong start from Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, and with only one wicket down, he believes they are slightly ahead in the game.

The third session started, and South Africa's resistance lasted all of three overs. Bumrah and Co. mopped up the tail in no time, leaving Stubbs high and dry as the Proteas folded for just 159. Bumrah grabbed his 16th five-wicket haul in Tests, while Siraj and Kuldeep picked up two apiece. When India came out to bat, Jaiswal looked all kinds of uncomfortable against the new ball. KL Rahul, though, was rock solid at the other end and played a few delightful strokes as well. Just as Jaiswal was finding his feet and starting to look more comfortable, Jansen struck and sent him packing. India threw a curveball by sending Sundar in at three, and he combined with Rahul to see off the rest of the day without any more damage.

India completely turned the screws in the second session and South Africa crumbled under the pressure. After a fairly even morning, the afternoon was an absolute nightmare for the tourists. Just 49 runs off 25 overs while losing 5 wickets tells you everything. Bumrah and Kuldeep picked up where they left off, and the South African batters just couldn't figure them out. Tony de Zorzi and Mulder, who looked steady in a blossoming partnership, eventually perished against controlled bowling. Then Siraj, who was all over the shop early on, found his groove with some reverse swing and grabbed a couple to his name as well. Axar chipped in just before tea to twist the knife further. Only Stubbs displayed any real fight, holding firm while wickets tumbled around him.

The opening session delivered exactly what this series promised - proper Test cricket with something in it for everyone. After winning the toss, South Africa's openers navigated the tricky early period smartly, with Rickelton looking especially fluent, before Bumrah stepped up massively. Seven overs of relentless pressure yielded two absolute beauties that removed both openers, and Kuldeep quickly made it three. From 57 without loss to 71 for 3, South Africa looked in trouble, but de Zorzi and Mulder dug in, weathering the variable bounce to drag their side to a respectable score of 105 by Lunch.

The umpires converge to have a chat once again, and they feel that the artificial light has overpowered the natural light now. Simon Harmer was right on his bowling mark and was keen to continue, but the umps pulled the plug on what was a day dominated by the bowlers. As many as 11 wickets fell and only 196 runs were scored. Overall, the hosts would be quite pleased with the way they dominated the whole day, mainly through their bowling effort. The Proteas, on the other hand, might surely feel that they were underwhelming on a pitch that was not THAT bad to bat on. On the positive side, though, they will be pleased with the way they operated with the new ball.

Floated up, on middle, KL works this full ball in front of mid off and takes a single.

Slants it into the right-hander, full in length, Rahul is solid in defence.

Keeps it nice and full, on middle, Rahul pushes it back to Maharaj.

Darted in by Maharaj, a bit short, on middle and leg. Rahul gets his hands out in front to defend but is beaten on the inside edge to be rapped on the front pad.

At 82.9 kph, full and at the sticks, Rahul's bat is close to the front pad as he stabs it down.

Attacking the front pad with a full ball, KL brings his bat out in front to defend.

Beautifully bowled! Harmer goes a bit wide on the crease and gets the ball to drop on the batter. Full and on off, Sundar lunges but fails to get to the pitch of the ball. The ball shoots off the deck and rips past the outside edge.

Bowled a bit quicker and shorter, on middle. Washington Sundar waits back to keep it out.

This is slower and fuller, around off, Washington lunges for the block.

Drags the length back and finds a bit of turn, on off, Washington Sundar reaches out in front to smother the spin.

Another one that comes in with the angle, full and on the off stump. Washington Sundar gets a good stride in to defend.

Full and sliding into the left-hander from around the wicket. Sundar blocks it out.