Stumps on Day 1
Bad light and rain brought an abrupt end to the opening day's play at Durban leaving India at an edgy 183 for 6 in 56 overs. Just the three overs of cricket was possible after the Tea Break as the conditions became far too grey and dull for any further action. India added 15 more runs in this short period without losing a single wicket. There is quite some hope though for India to stretch this first innings total to atleast 250 looking at the way MS Dhoni (20* from 31 balls with 2 fours) and Harbhajan Singh (15* from 25 balls with 2 fours) have applied themselves so far.
Tea on Day 1
South Africa have India almost on the mat at 168 for 6 in 53 overs by Tea on the first day's play. All the specialist batsmen have been dismissed by the hosts with the exception of Skipper MS Dhoni (18* from 27 balls) with Harbhajan Singh (2* from 11 balls). Dale Steyn took two more wickets in this post lunch session while left arm quick - Lonwabo Tsotsobe chipped in with a couple of wickets plus a superb catch.
Tsotsobe infact struck gold in the very first over after the lunch break with a sucker ball which Tendulkar (13) chased outside off to be caught at second slip. India seemed to be getting back on the track when Laxman joined Dravid but the latter got a beautiful outswinger from Steyn which kicked up to force an outside edge. Dravid fell after a hard working innings of 25 from 68 balls.
At 117 for 4, Cheteshwar Pujara joined VVS Laxman and soon lost his senior partner who was brilliantly caught by Tsotsobe at short mid wicket. Laxman (38 from 73 balls with 4 fours and a six) had played a meaty pull shot off Steyn from outside off to be caught by the diving Tsotsobe. Pujara looked good in the middle against the quicks but caused his own downfall with an ambitious pull off a short ball from Tsotsobe which turned into a top edge to be caught behind. Pujara was impressive in his 45-ball 19 before being the last man to be dismissed before Tea.
Lunch on Day 1
India are on the backfoot but at the same time seem to be recovering at 74 for 2 in 19 overs in the curtailed first session of Day 1. It was a tough battle for the batsmen as the ball swung in the air, seamed off the pitched and kicked around wickedly. However, it took 10.4 overs for the Proteas to taste success when Virender Sehwag got a leading edge to a rash drive off Steyn to be caught at second slip. Sehwag with some sheer luck survived 32 balls to score 25 with 4 fours in an opening stand of 43.
In the 13th over, Murali Vijay was sent back to the pavilion by Steyn who produced a bouncing outswinger around off to force him to nick behind to the keeper. Vijay scored 19 from 42 balls with 2 fours. The next few overs before lunch were nicely negotiated by a cautious Dravid (14* from 21 balls) with the aggressive Sachin Tendulkar who with a couple of good upper cuts has moved to 13* from 19 balls. While batting seems to be a tough job, India's aim would to get as many runs as possible before eventually getting bowled out. Its not a pitch where a batsman can hang in there and survive for a long period of time. India would be happy if they can put up 300 atleast on the board.
Toss and Teams
South Africa have won the toss and elected to field first in the Second Test at Durban. India will once again be challenged on what might be a damp wicket with quite some grass cover. South Africa who had won the first Test have gone in with the same playing XI while India have made three changes which includes the replacement of the injured Gautam Gambhir. The three players coming into the side are Murali Vijay for Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara for Raina and Zaheer Khan for Jaidev Unadkat.
Update at 1:30 PM IST
The Second Test between South Africa and India has been delayed due to a drizzle and slightly wet conditions at Durban. The skies are grey and there is forecast for both sunshine and also rain as the day goes along. The pitch at Kingsmead looks on the greenish side and is expected to suit the seam bowlers.
