South Africa skipper Dean Elgar says they let themselves down with bat in hand

South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar has fingered the team’s batters for the loss to India in their Freedom Trophy series opener at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

The Proteas were up against it after losing the toss and seeing India reach 270 for 3 by stumps on day one.

Elgar conceded that they could have bowled better on the first day but said that ultimately the batters let the side down.

South Africa were bowled out for 197 and 191 in their two innings with only one batter in each dig making it past 50.

Elgar himself made a stoic 77 in the second dig but his dismissal sparked a collapse that signalled the end of South Africa’s challenge.

Temba Bavuma was the pick of the South African batsmen making 52 in the first innings and ending unbeaten on 35 in the run chase.

KL Rahul: ‘It’s all coming together now’

The rest of the top order will need to improve markedly if South Africa are to get back into the series, something Elgar was aware of in his post-match interview.

Elgar believes that some small tweaks could get the Proteas back on an equal footing with the tourists.

“It was always going to be a bit tough,” Elgar said after the loss.

“We could have executed our lengths better on day one but we fought back after lunch but then we let it slip a little bit after tea.

“Our bowlers were brilliant after that [on day three]. It was great to restrict India.

“But with bat in hand, we let ourselves down quite a lot.

“I say the difference was the batting.

“I think we can have a little sit down and strategise going forward. I don’t think we did a lot wrong.”

The series now moves to the Wanderers, which is expected to serve up another paceman’s paradise.

India skipper Virat Kohli was pleased with his bowling unit and should back the same side to go into battle provided they are all fit.

“We had a lot of belief in our bowling unit to get the job done. We spoke about it in the change room,” Kohli said in Centurion.

“Just the way these guys bowl together, it’s just a hallmark of our team getting a result from that position. Shami is an absolutely world-class bowler, among top three seam bowlers in the world for me. Very, very happy for him to get 200 wickets and have an impactful performances.”