South Africa v India 2013: 1st Test: 5 of the best plays from Day 1

At the end of a topsy-turvy day 1, it is probably honours even, with India maybe being the slightly more content of the two teams, purely because of the fight, grit and application shown by the batsman. South Africa would have expected a lot more from what was a day that was proper exhibition of the good that Test cricket still has to offer. Here’s a look at the top 5 plays of the day.

1. The Opening Spell

Dale Steyn

Although Vernon Philander was slightly off his best with his first spell, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were fiery. While Steyn gave Shikhar Dhawan a thorough working over before getting him to top-edge a hook, Morkel tormented Murali Vijay. Morkel, with his ability to generate uncomfortable bounce from a good length, coupled that with seam movement to soften Vijay up, and then delivered the sucker punch, with a full delivery on off stump that Vijay had a waft at, with no feet movement, giving an easy catch for AB de Villiers to snap up. That opening burst was probably the best South Africa bowled all day, and it was baffling that Steyn and Morkel hardly ever bowled in tandem throughout the day.

2. The Partnership

Kohli and Pujara

When your side loses 2 wickets for 24 runs, in tough conditions, there is bound to be pressure. But Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli stood up to the task and showed a lot of spunk and character to snuff out the danger posed by the South African pacers. While Kohli was his usual positive self, and looked to keep getting runs, Pujara was solid, ensuring that he kept his end tight, and didn’t present the bowlers with an opportunity to get their tails up. Kohli ensured that the bad balls weren’t let unpunished and Pujara most often ensured that the good deliveries didn’t cause too much trouble.

3. The Give Away

Rohit Sharma

With a stand of 89, Kohli and Pujara were frustrating South Africa when they threw it away. Kohli set off for a non-existent single, and Pujara responded, but Kohli sent him back half way through and there no way Pujara could get back into his crease. That would have been frustrating for Pujara as he had done the hard work, and buckled down to snuff out South Africa.

But with his dismissal, South Africa smelt an opening, and tried to get at India. Rohit Sharma stood up to the test admirably before he had a lazy waft outside off stump to edge Philander through to de Villiers. This must have left India wondering about what might have been had either Rohit or Pujara stayed in the middle for a bit longer.

4. The celebration

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli played a sublime innings, and the celebration once he got to his century said it all. For someone known for his extravagant over-the-top celebrations, this one was not that. Kohli let out a squeal of joy, raised his bat to the dressing room, and then let all the delirium soak in. It was a truly special innings from a player, who has quite rightly been earmarked as the heir to Sachin Tendulkar‘s no. 4 slot in Test cricket. Kohli made sure that he led India on the day, and completely deserved the 100. After all, it was the first century by an Indian no.4 batsman in Tests since January 2011.

5. The No Show

Imran Tahir

South Africa would have ideally wanted their spinners to lend them some control so that the pacers could be well rested for their final assaults, but that failed to happen. Imran Tahir and JP Duminy have certainly had better days with the ball in their respective careers so far. Both of them delivered long hops and full tosses aplenty and the Indians made sure they cashed in. A lot was expected out of Tahir after his recent exploits in the UAE against Pakistan, but Tahir hardly ever hit the right length, and was punished by Kohli, in particular.

So, all in all, an absorbing day of Test cricket, that sets this Test match up beautifully.