Wickets galore, 1st Sth Africa-India Test

Dean Elgar was the unlikely bowling hero for South Africa as the tourists skittled India for 201 on Thursday's opening day of the first Test in Mohali.

The part-time left-arm spinner, with just six wickets in 17 previous Tests, grabbed 4-22 as India lasted just 68 overs before being dismissed after tea.

South Africa were reduced to 2-9 in reply before ending at 2-28 at the IS Bindra stadium.

Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed Stiaan van Zyl lbw for five and left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja bowled Faf du Plessis for a duck with his second delivery.

Elgar (13no) and skipper Hashim Amla (9no) held off the Indian spinners to ensure no further setbacks for the tourists.

Opener Murali Vijay was the lone top-order Indian batsman to offer resistance, making 75 before he was sixth out, lbw while trying to sweep offspinner Simon Harmer.

India were reduced to 7-154 before Jadeja (38) and Ashwin (20no) lifted the total with a 42-run eighth-wicket stand.

South Africa showed why they are the No.1 Test side, claiming three wickets in the morning session, after India won the toss and batted first on a dusty, dry pitch.

The first wicket fell before a run had been scored when Shikhar Dhawan (0) hung his bat out to a swinging ball from Vernon Philander and edged a catch to Amla at first slip.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Vijay retrieved the situation with a 63-run partnership for the second wicket when Elgar stepped up with the ball and, an over later, with a low catch to make it 3-65.

Elgar trapped Pujara lbw for 31 with his fourth delivery.

Four balls later, Elgar dived in the covers to remove Indian captain Virat Kohli for one on his 27th birthday - also giving debutant fast bowler Kagiso Rabada his first Test wicket.

India, who went to lunch at 3-82, were set back once again by Elgar who took two wickets off successive deliveries spread over two overs to reduce the hosts to 5-102.

Ajinkya Rahane (15) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) were snapped up by Amla in slips, but Jadeja denied Elgar a hat-trick by defending the next ball.

Elgar claimed his fourth wicket when Amit Mishra holed out to Dale Steyn in the deep, soon after Vijay was dismissed.

Legspinner Imran Tahir, brought on as the sixth bowler, bowled Umesh Yadav and last man Varun Aaron in the space of four balls to terminate the innings.

India went in with three spinners and two fast bowlers on a pitch expected to break up as the match progresses.

The Proteas were without injured Morne Morkel for the first match in the four-Test series, allowing 20-year-old Rabada to make his debut.

Rabada joined Steyn and Philander in a three-man pace attack, supported by two specialist spinners in Tahir and Harmer.