Lacklustre Proteas unable to combat spin

Cricket365
November 27, 2015

India were by far the dominant side on day one of the second Test in Bangalore, as they bowled South Africa for 214 and then added 80 runs of their own without loss by stumps.

As such, India trailed by only 134 runs, with Shikhar Dhawan going strong on 45, and Murali Vijay more sedate on 28 not out. The Proteas, meanwhile, had only reached their score thanks to AB de Villiers' 85.

India won the toss and opted to bowl, bringing Stuart Binny and Ishant Sharma into the side. The Proteas made three changes, with Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott coming in for the injured Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, while JP Duminy replaced Simon Harmer.

India correctly assumed their spinners would be able to do the job, as they had in Mohali. The Proteas lost three very early wickets, with Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Stiaan van Zyl out cheaply.

Dean Elgar played a steady knock and made 38, batting for 10 overs with De Villiers, but Ravi Jadeja claimed his wicket by bowling him. Jadeja, as well as Ravi Ashwin, took four wickets.

The score passed the 200 mark thanks to some tail end flair from Morne Morkel, who made 22 before falling to Ashwin. it was a score well below par, as India's openers showed for the rest of the evening.

Dhawan, under pressure to score some runs, and Vijay batted fluently, with only one chance given up. Imran Tahir dropped a sitter off Vijay when the batsman was on 21. It was a looping, easy catch, but the spinner was unable to hold on.

As such, the Proteas have a mountain to climb to even draw this Test, and if they lose they will be two nil down in the series with two to play. Considering they last lost a Test series away from home in 2006, this could spell the end of that run.