Harmer, Imran leave India struggling at lunch

Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan on Saturday said that South Africa are a strong side, but added that they don't have world-class spinners that eventually led to their huge 108-run defeat against the hosts in the first Test of the four-match series at Mohali.

Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin finished with a five-for as India took control of the first test against South Africa on the second day today.

In spite of the margin of defeat the Proteas can take quite a lot out of the match, not the least being the performance of the spin attack with Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer and Imran Tahir sharing 15 wickets between them.

Jadeja gave India its first breakthrough, when Team India came out to defend its target of 218 runs to the South Africans.

As a result, they lost three quick wickets quite early.

"De Villiers" departure in the 10th over to a ball that kept low from Mishra (1-26) was the beginning of the end of South Africa, their innings quickly falling away as 32-4 became 60-6 just after tea as Dean Elgar (16) and Dane Vilas (7) departed.

The visitors never looked like settling down, losing wickets at regular intervals to hand the hosts the advantage.

Opener Stiaan van Zyl was out leg before when he shouldered arms to Ravichandran Ashwin, while Faf du Plessis was bowled by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja with the ball hitting his off-stump after he had left it.

Ashwin grabbed three wickets in the first session to have match figures so far of four wickets for 36 runs.

Rabada (1-30) claimed his maiden Test scalp with the prized wicket of Kohli, who got a leading edge and was caught by a diving Elgar in the covers as India were reduced to 82-3 at lunch.

"I think he is struggling", Henderson said of Steyn.

The Proteas sprang a surprise by sending in paceman Vernon Philander to open the innings, a ploy that failed when Jadeja trapped the batsman lbw for one.

Ajinkya Rahane fell cheaply as India slipped from 161-2 to 164-5.

Medium-pacer van Zyl, the sixth bowler summoned by Amla, broke the threatening partnership soon after the drinks interval by having Kohli caught behind for 29. Pujara compiled 77 with one six and six fours and was caught by Hashim Amla at slip.

South Africa missed pace spearhead Dale Steyn, who did not take the field in the second innings due to a "tight right groin", according to Cricket South Africa.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja returned to deal a bigger blow when he castled Hashim Amla, the South Africa captain offering no shot to a ball that crashed onto his middle stump.