SA 28/2 | Live Cricket Score India vs South Africa 2015, 1st Test at Mohali, Day 1: Spinners dominate on eventful day

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and updates of the first day’s play between India and South Africa, in the first of their four-Test series at Mohali. This is Shiamak Unwalla, and I will be bringing you the live cricket score updates and more. The match will be played at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali and it is after almost two long years that the Indian cricket team is playing a Test at their home. The last time when India played Test cricket it home, Sachin Tendulkar was in his final series and since then, few big players such as MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan alongwith Tendulkar have retired from the game. The other three Tests of the Gandhi-Mandela Series 2015 will be played at Bengaluru, Nagpur and New Delhi respectively. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs South Africa 2015, 1st Test at Mohali, Day 1

The Indian spinners have managed to keep things interesting as of stumps on Day One. South Africa are still ahead, but an early wicket tomorrow morning could change things quite drastically. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took a wicket apiece, and with Amit Mishra bowling beautifully as well, South Africa have their task cut out for them. One thing is certain; the 201 India scored looks a lot like 275 at the moment. DAY REPORT: South Africa stutter in reply to India’s paltry 201 on Day 1 of 1st Test at Mohali

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 28/2 | Overs 20 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 13(59), Hashim Amla 9(34) | The way the spinners are bowling, it seems like India might just have got a decent score; 201 looks a bit like 300 at the moment. Amit Mishra bowls the perfect leg-break to Hashim Amla, beats him all ends up, but Amla survives. Ashwin to bowl the last over of the day. His figures so far: 6-3-3-1. Elgar will face. A lot of ooohs and aaahs as Ashwin gets the ball to do all sorts of things. Elgar is playing very late, which is a good way to go about it. He takes a single which leaves the Mighty Hash to face the final ball of Day One. And it’s a dot. So South Africa crawl to 28 for 2 at stumps on Day One.

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 25/2 | Overs 16 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 11(48), Hashim Amla 8(21) | Stumps coming up in a few overs. India would love another wicket now. Jadeja and Aaron operating at the moment. Aaron is quick, but not very threatening. And Ashwin comes back, this is the right choice by Kohli. He has looked excellent in the few overs he has bowled. Beats Elgar outside off, then gets another leading edge. Elgar has survived for nearly 50 balls now but he is not looking very comfortable. Ashwin bowls a maiden as well.

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 23/2 | Overs 13 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 9(36), Hashim Amla 8(15) | Amit Mishra comes on as well. But he is taken off after one over. Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Aaron continue to bowl. Kohli shuffling up his bowlers all around. It could be just a bit too much experimentation though. Ashwin and Jadeja bowling in tandem would be most advisable at the moment. India all over South Africa at the moment.

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 10/2 | Overs 9 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 3(25), Hashim Amla 1(2) | Varun Aaron comes into the attack now, and starts off with a maiden over (shocker!) to Dean Elgar. Here he is, that man Sir Ravindra Jadeja. Faf du Plessis on strike OH BOWLED HIM! That’s the second time a batsman has been out leaving the ball! Jadeja strikes gold! The Mighty Hash walks in. OUT! Faf du Plessis 0(4) b Ravindra Jadeja

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 9/1 | Overs 7 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 3(17), Faf du Plessis 0(2) | R Ashwin is bowling beautifully at the moment. If at all India are to have a hope in this match, it will rest heavily on Ashwin’s shoulders. Elgar and van Zyl have looked a bit tentative so far. GONE! Ashwin you absolute beauty! That’s the end of van Zyl, he left one just outside off, but it did not spin and instead went on with the arm. Struck plumb in front! OUT! Stiaan van Zyl 5(23) LBW Ravichandran Ashwin

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 7/0 | Overs 5 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 1(12), Stiaan van Zyl 5(18) | R Ashwin and Umesh Yadav are bowling with intent at the moment. Ashwin is as usual right on the nose from ball one. He is getting the ball to turn and bounce, and has caused a few problems so far. Umesh Yadav is solid but has not found much movement yet. This will be a tense half hour for the Protean openers.

Live Cricket Score: South Africa 1/0 | Overs 1 | BATSMEN: Dean Elgar 0(8), Stiaan van Zyl 0(4) | R Ashwin opens bowling for India. Dean Elgar is on strike. Here we go. HUGE APPEAL for LBW against Elgar, but it would have probably gone down leg. It’s a maiden over to begin with. Umesh Yadav takes the new ball from the other end. Another maiden over, just a leg bye off it.

India have been shoddy at best. The way they batted against the part-time spin of Dean Elgar left a lot to be desired. As many as seven Indian wickets fell to spin; four to Elgar, two to Imran Tahir, and one to Simon Harmer. Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander picked up three wickets between them, while Dale Steyn went wicketless. For India, only Murali Vijay looked comfortable, while Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to score a few runs as well. Will India’s 201 be enough? The ball is turning on Day One, so it might just be. INNINGS REPORT: South African spinners bundle up India for paltry 201 on Day 1 in 1st Test at Mohali

Live Cricket Score: India 201 | Overs 68 | BATSMEN: Ravichandran Ashwin 20(42) | Jadeja and Ashwin are playing well, but India are far from in a good position. Another 50-odd runs could make a huge difference though. OH GONE! It’s not to be, Big Vern was threatening to get Jadeja out, and he finally does it. Jadeja has played a fine innings though. Umesh Yadav, recent First-Class centurion, comes in. BOWLED HIM. Tahir gets him with a googly! India are nine down. AND ANOTHER ONE! It’s all over, Ashwin is left stranded on 20. OUT! Ravindra Jadeja 38(92) LBW Vernon Philander, Umesh Yadav 5(7) b Imran Tahir, Varun Aaron 0(2) b Imran Tahir

Live Cricket Score: India 184/7 | Overs 63 | BATSMEN: Ravindra Jadeja 34(82), Ravichandran Ashwin 12(32) | Jadeja has been very impressive so far. There was a time, not long ago, when Jadeja came across as very fidgety with the bat in Tests, but this innings of his has shown a previously unseen calmness about him. He has not been flawless, but he has inspired some confidence. India go closer to 200.

Live Cricket Score: India 180/7 | Overs 59 | BATSMEN: Ravindra Jadeja 32(71), Ravichandran Ashwin 10(19) | Steady period of play for both sides so far. Neither batsman is going for his shots, but the bowlers have not given much scope to score runs either. India inching steadily to the 200-run mark. That could make a huge difference to India’s mindset when they eventually come out to bowl.

Live Cricket Score: India 168/7 | Overs 54 | BATSMEN: Ravindra Jadeja 26(55), Ravichandran Ashwin 4(11) | India’s spin twins (well, two of the spin triplets) are batting right now, with the side in dire straits. Kagiso Rabada and Dean Elgar bowling in tandem. GONE! Rabada takes his second wicket, and Ashwin has to make the long walk back! Hang on, they are checking for the no ball. RABADA HAS OVERSTEPPED! Ashwin survives to fight another day. So India remain in tatters at 168 for 7 at tea. TEA REPORT: Dean Elgar’s four-for has India reeling at 168-7 at tea vs South Africa on Day 1, 1st Test at Mohali

Live Cricket Score: India 154/7 | Overs 51 | BATSMEN: Ravindra Jadeja 17(40), Ravichandran Ashwin 0(1) | Simon Harmer and Dean Elgar continue to tie down the Indian batsmen. Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir have bowled well also. Elgar again, with three wickets. AND HIS FOURTH! Terrible shot given the match situation. Mishra tries to take on the part-timer who has ripped through India’s top order. He fails. OUT! Amit Mishra 6 (8) c Dale Steyn b Dean Elgar

Live Cricket Score: India 152/6 | Overs 49 | BATSMEN: Ravindra Jadeja 15 (32), Amit Mishra 6 (5) | After  scoring a brilliant half-century Murali Vijay falls to Simon Harmer, who picks up his first wicket of the match. Vijay was trapped right in front and the umpire had no hesitation in raising the finger. South Africa right on top at the moment. OUT! Murali Vijay LBW b Harmer 75 (136)

Live Cricket Score: India 111/5 | Overs 40 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 56(118), Ravindra Jadeja 1(1) | Simon Harmer continues. Murali Vijay has not been allowed to open up as he would have liked, he has to keep defending with wickets falling at the other end. He plays out a maiden. Dean Elgar again. GONE! First ball duck for Saha! Elgar is on a hat-trick! Jadeja negates the hat-trick, and Vijay decides it is time to cut loose. He gets to his half-century in the process as well. OUT! Wriddhiman Saha 0(1) c Hashim Amla b Dean Elgar

Live Cricket Score: India 102/4 | Overs 38 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 48(108), Wriddhiman Saha 0(0) | Simon Harmer comes back on now. He remains ineffective though. Dean Elgar continues. GONE! This is his second wicket, and it’s another huge scalp. Vicious turn on that occasion, and Rahane edges to Hashim Amla at slip! Elgar has far out-bowled Harmer today. OUT! Ajinkya Rahane 15(48) c Hashim Amla b Dean Elgar

Live Cricket Score: India 92/3 | Overs 33 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 44(95), Ajinkya Rahane 9(31) | Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander bowling well in tandem. India have been solid after lunch, but barring those early boundaries they have not scored too many runs. This will be an engaging passage of play. India will want these two to stay in the middle till at least 200, if not more.

Live Cricket Score: India 90/3 | Overs 29 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 44(86), Ajinkya Rahane 7(16) | Vernon Philander starts after lunch. And Ajinkya Rahane drives one down the ground for a boundary to end the over. Dale Steyn continues from the other end. FOUR more, he drives this crisply through cover. Not much footwork, but that is wonderful timing. India have started positively after lunch. All eyes on Vijay and Rahane.

Live Cricket Score: India 82/3 | Overs 27 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 40(80), Ajinkya Rahane 3(10) | Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer finish things off at lunch. Murali Vijay has been excellent, and Cheteshwar Pujara looked secure, but at 82 for 3 India are in dire need of a big partnership at lunch. LUNCH REPORT: India struggling at 82/3 against South Africa at lunch on Day 1, 1st Test at Mohali

Live Cricket Score: India 69/3 | Overs 23 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 30(62), Ajinkya Rahane 0(4) | Kagiso Rabada gets a change of ends. Dean Elgar probably came in just to change ends, and he ended up taking a wicket. Birthday boy Virat Kohli on strike now. OH GONE! Two wickets in two overs, soft dismissal for Kohli. He ends up getting a leading edge that was snapped up by the man at cover. The two-paced track has claimed Kohli early. OUT! Virat Kohli 1(4) c Dean Elgar b Kagiso Rabada

Live Cricket Score: India 64/2 | Overs 22 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 30(62), Virat Kohli 1(1) | Simon Harmer continues to bowl a decent line but he is not posing any problems at all. Dean Elgar has now come on, ahead of Imran Tahir. What can he do? OH GONE! Would you believe it! Pujara has played down the wrong line and he is struck plumb in front! Pujara will be very cross with himself. OUT! Cheteshwar Pujara 31(66) LBW Dean Elgar

Live Cricket Score: India 55/1 | Overs 19 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 29(57), Cheteshwar Pujara 25(54) | Simon Harmer is being dealt with without too much trouble. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara are picking him off quite easily. Kagiso Rabada has not posed any pertinent questions either. India are going quite well at the moment.

Live Cricket Score: India 47/1 | Overs 16 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 27(45), Cheteshwar Pujara 20(47) | So finally a bowling change, it’s Simon Harmer now. Pujara plays with the spin and dismisses him to the boundary. Kagiso Rabada, on debut, comes on at the other end. Both Vijay and Pujara look quite comfortable now.

Live Cricket Score: India 34/1 | Overs 12 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 21(34), Cheteshwar Pujara 13(34) | Murali Vijay is batting quite beautifully at the moment, he is reallt fluent. Pujara at the other end has looked good as well, he has been quite solid again. Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn have bowled unchanged for the first 12 overs of the match.

Live Cricket Score: India 24/1 | Overs 9 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 11(28), Cheteshwar Pujara 13(23) | Murali Vijay is playing a patient innings, as usual. Both batsmen are quite watchful, the pitch is a bit up and down at the moment, uneven bounce on display. Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander have not been particularly probing though.

Live Cricket Score: India 13/1 | Overs 5 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 4(15), Cheteshwar Pujara 9(11) | Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander are bowling reasonably well here. The Indian batsmen are leaving well also. Pujara has looked good so far today, he has played a couple of good shots.

Live Cricket Score: India 4/1 | Overs 2 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 0(6), Cheteshwar Pujara 4(2) | Big Vernon Philander starts off from the other end. Shikhar Dhawan will want to get going early. OH GONE! Philander gets his man. Slightly short outside off, Dhawan tries to cut but gets a flying edge, and that’s taken at slip! FOUR. Pujara drives one down the ground, he will feel good after that one. OUT! Shikhar Dhawan 0(4) c Hashim Amla b Vernon Philander

Live Cricket Score: India 0/0 | Overs 1 | BATSMEN: Murali Vijay 0(6), Shikhar Dhawan 0(0) | Dale Steyn steams in for South Africa. Bit of swing on offer, and Murali Vijay leaves the swinging balls outside off quite easily. Vijay batted wonderfully in South Africa in 2013-14, so his confidence will be quite high. He has good memories of Mohali as well. Shikhar Dhawan, of course, announced himself with 187 on debut at this very ground.

TOSS: India have won the toss and elected to bat! The players who have missed out in the Indian team are Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ishant Sharma (serving ICC ban for 1 Test), Stuart Binny and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. South Africa will give Test debut to Kagiso Rabada as there is no Morne Morkel. The other players who are out from the SA XI are JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma and Dane Piedt.

TEAMS:

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Hashim Amla (c), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, Dane Vilas (wk), Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada

Good morning! The teams are warming up right now and the toss is only a few minutes away. Anil Kumble, in the TV commentary team, has made a very interesting observation that four bowlers would be enough on this track! Let’s see…

Harsha Bhogle has tweeted that the pitch at the PCA Stadium in Mohali is one for the spinners to ‘feast on’! N0w, India’s spin attack is far more competent than South Africa’s! Unless India’s batsmen struggle like they have in the recent past.

India have lost both the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) and the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series to South Africa. The tourists won the T20I series 2-0 with the third match being washed out and the ODI series 2-3, with a commanding win over India in Mumbai in the final ODI. South Africa amassed more than 400 runs, and when India struggled to chase them down, it sparked the debate of home teams having favourable wickets once again. MUST READ: India vs South Africa 2015 1st Test at Mohali, Preview: India look for redemption in Gandhi-Mandela Series 2015

This will be the first time that Virat Kohli will be captaining India in a full Test series in India. Kohli captained India in the one-off Test after Dhoni retired from the format late in 2014, in Bangladesh and in three-Test series in Sri Lanka, wherein his team won 2-1 to seal a series win after 22 long years. Kohli, who turns 27 on Thursday, would hope that his team makes a confident start against the might of South Africa. ALSO READ: India, South Africa not worried about pitch ahead of 1st Test at Mohali

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), KL Rahul, Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma.

South Africa: Hashim Amla (c), AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas (wk).

Catch live cricket scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of India vs South Africa 015, 1st Test, Day 1 at Mohali here