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Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja prey on batsmen’s doubts in India vs South Africa 2015, 2nd Test at Bengaluru

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took eight wickets between them as South Africa were skittled out for a disappointing 214 against India.

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The Indian spinners took 8 of the 10 South African wickets © AFP
The Indian spinners took 8 of the 10 South African wickets © AFP

India and South Africa’s battle on Day One of the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday proved to be a rather one-sided affair. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took eight wickets between them as South Africa were skittled out for a disappointing 214. AB de Villiers, celebrating his 100th Test, stood tall amid the ruins with a masterly 85 off 105 with 11 fours and a six, but his teammates failed to pay him a proper tribute by sticking it out in the middle. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs South Africa 2nd Test at Bengaluru

Unlike the pitch at Mohali, which aided turn from the first session of the match, the Bengaluru track was not too bad for batting. There was expectedly turn, but nothing that would be too out-of-place on a Day One track in India. As Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan showed later in the day, there were hardly any demons in the pitch. And yet, the Proteas could only muster 214. There was de Villiers, batting like a dream and frolicking his way to 85; and then there were the others, who were made to look like novices against the skillful but not unplayable spin of Ashwin and Jadeja.

Full credit must be given to India’s spinners; they saw that the South Africans were not confident and they preyed on that doubt like seasoned hunters picking off the weakest of quarries. Stiaan van Zyl had hit Ishant Sharma for two boundaries in an over, but played down the wrong line and was struck in front of the stumps by Ashwin. Three balls later, Faf du Plessis — who has had a torrid time in the three innings he has played so far — tried to get off the mark early and only succeeded in offering Cheteshwar Pujara a sharp chance at short leg. It was duly accepted, and Ashwin suddenly had two wickets in the over. READ: AB de Villiers: 100th Test for cricket’s Gen X war prince

Hashim Amla was done in by a cracker from Varun Aaron. It was only the second wicket taken by an Indian pace bowler in the Test series so far. Dean Elgar and de Villiers took South Africa to tea at 78 for 3, but two balls into the second session Elgar swept Jadeja off his gloves onto his stumps. JP Duminy was done in by an excellent catch by Ajinkya Rahane at slip, but he was suckered into the shot by Ashwin. Dane Vilas tried to hit his way out of trouble and only succeeded in hitting the ball back to Jadeja. The big wicket of de Villiers came in odd fashion; he gloved one onto his pad and Wriddhiman Saha took an athletic catch in front of the stumps. It was the last ball before tea. South Africa were in the doldrums at 177 for 7.

Much as he had done after lunch, Jadeja struck with his second ball after tea as well. This time Kagiso Rabada played one to short leg. Morne Morkel threw his bat around but ended up slogging Ashwin one time too often. Stuart Binny took a fantastic catch running backwards to give Ashwin his fourth scalp. Kyle Abbott and Imran Tahir did not last another ball, and South Africa were cleaned out for 214. Sadly for them, it was still their highest score of the series.

The Bangalore pitch was not treacherous, and as good as the Indian spinners were, neither Ashwin nor Jadeja were unplayable. They stuck to their lines and bowled attacking lengths, but it was a lack of confidence and inexplicable doubt on a true surface that did the Proteas in. The match is far from over, but it will take a Herculean effort from South Africa to come back into the match. READ: AB de Villiers’ 100th Test: Another feather in the alien’s cap

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)

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