Dale Steyn celebrates with his teammates after dismissing Shikhar Dhawan
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Dale Steyn had a massive grin on his face as he marked his international comeback with the wicket of India opener Shikhar Dhawan. Steyn, along with fellow pace bowlers Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, ripped through India’s top order to leave them reeling at 28/3 at the end of the first day in Cape Town.
Other than Dhawan, India also lost opening batsman Murali Vijay and captain Virat Kohli. Ironically, South Africa made a similar start to their innings after opting to bat at the beginning of the day, but AB de Villiers and skipper Faf du Plessis turned things around for the Proteas.
After electing to bat first, Du Plessis, who was making his return after recovering from a viral illness and back and shoulder injuries, would have been hoping for a strong start from his side. Instead, he could only watch as India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar went on a rampage early on.
Kumar took out opener Dean Elgar on the third ball of the match before striking again in his next over and trapping the in-form Aiden Markram lbw for five runs.
He then proceeded to have Hashim Amla caught behind for three runs, which left the Proteas reeling at 12/3.
However, De Villiers and Du Plessis came to the rescue with a 114-run partnership, during which De Villiers surpassed his fifty.
AB de Villiers scored his 41st Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Just as the Proteas had recovered from losing three wickets in almost no time at all, De Villiers was clean bowled by debutant Jasprit Bumrah for 65, which came off 84 balls and included 11 boundaries.
Du Plessis, who was on 49 when De Villiers was sent packing, went on to score 62 off 104 deliveries, which included 12 boundaries, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Hardik Pandya.
Faf du Plessis struck his 16th half-century in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Quinton de Kock and Philander halted India’s charge with a 60-run stand before De Kock was caught behind off the bowling of Kumar for a 40-ball 43.
Philander ended up making 23 before he was cleaned up by Mohammed Shami.
Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada also made useful contributions as they scored 35 and 26 respectively.
Steyn managed to make 16 before South Africa were bowled out for 286 when Morkel was trapped lbw off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin for two runs.
Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Ashwin took two and Bumrah, Pandya and Shami chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Trailing by 286 runs, India lost opener Vijay in the fifth over as he was caught by Elgar at gully off the bowling of Philander for one run.
Dhawan was on his way back to the pavilion the very next over as he was caught and bowled by Steyn for a quickfire 16.
Things went from bad to worse for India as Kohli was caught behind off the bowling of Morkel for five runs.
With the tourists in all sorts of trouble at 27/3, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma put together an unbeaten one-run partnership before stumps was called.
Pujara finished on five off 18 balls, which included a solitary boundary, while Rohit has yet to get off the mark.
Philander, Steyn and Morkel claimed one wicket each.
India ended day one on 28/3 and will continue batting on Saturday at 10:30 local time or 08:30 GMT.