South Africa crumbled under pressure, losing five wickets in the afternoon session to add to the three that fell in the morning, as India took firm control at Eden Gardens.
Touring India for a Test match usually means hoping to win the toss, bat first, and make the most of the conditions before the wicket deteriorates.
Despite having the cricketing gods on their side at the toss this morning, the Proteas made very little use of the advantage, losing eight wickets in the first two sessions on Day One.
Apart from the dismissals of Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton — who were undone by unplayable deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah — questions can be asked about how the other batters lost their wickets. It was a combination of poor shot selection and execution, as the Proteas simply could not get anything right on Day One.
Even the reviews they called for were nowhere near close, with Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, and Kyle Verreynne heading for the pavilion long before the third umpire’s decision appeared on the big screen.
Mulder (24) was trapped lbw by Kuldeep Yadav (2/36) attempting a reverse-sweep, while De Zorzi (24) and Verreynne (16) were trapped in front by Bumrah (3/23) and Mohammed Siraj (2/47), respectively.
Siraj would later bowl Marco Jansen for a duck, while Axar Patel (1/20) trapped Corbin Bosch (3) lbw to give India their seventh and eighth wickets before the umpires sent the players for Tea.
With Tristan Stubbs (15 not out) and Simon Harmer set to resume in the evening session, South Africa will hope to squeeze out as many runs as possible and give a weakened Proteas bowling attack — already without Kagiso Rabada due to a rib injury — something to bowl at.
Scorecard:
South Africa: 154/8 (Aiden Markram 31; Jasprit Burmah 3/23)
