SA vs IND, 1st Test: Twitter Reacts As South Africa Replies Strongly With The Ball
India finished day one on 28 for 3 after bowling out South Africa for 286 in the first innings in Cape Town.
India began their reply on a promising note with Shikhar Dhawan hitting a couple of fours in the very first over. However, Dhawan and Murali Vijay could not give the visitors a strong start as both perished while playing poor shots as India found themselves reeling at 16 for 2. And even before the visitors could recover from the early setbacks, they suffered another setback when Morne Morkel dismissed Virat Kohli for just 5.
Faf du Plessis’ decision to bat first was proven wrong straightaway by Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he took three wickets even before the spectators could settle down. Dean Elgar, South Africa’s highest run-scorer in Tests last year, was the first go, edging one behind the stumps in the very first over. He was soon followed by his opening partner Aiden Markram in the hut before Bhuvneshwar struck again to remove Hashim Amla and reduce the hosts to 12 for 3.
But before the visitors could inflict further damage on the Proteas, AB de Villiers, playing his first five-day Test in almost two years, launched a stunning counterattack to ease the pressure off his side. He was well supported by skipper Faf du Plessis who did not look fluent but manged to hang. The duo helped South Africa reach lunch without losing any wicket with the scoreboard reading 107. De Villiers finished the session on 59 off 65 while du Plessis was batting on 37.
The duo, however, could not much after the lunch as debutant Jasprit Bumrah castled de Villiers for 65 to bring an end to the dangerous looking 114-run partnership. 16 runs later, Hardik Pandya removed Faf du Plessis before Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander helped the hosts to cross the 200-run mark by adding 60 runs. With de Kock threatening to cut lose, Bhuvneshwar Kumar added one more to his kitty just at the right time by inducing a thin edge that ended the keeper-batsman’s 40-ball 43 runs knock, laced with seven fours.
Philander and Keshav Maharaj played handy knocks to help their side over 250. The visitors were then further frustrated by Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn before Ravichandran Ashwin ended the 22-run stand by dismissing the former for 26 to reduce the Proteas to 280 for 9. Six runs later, the off-spinner struck again to dismiss Morne Morkel and the South Africa innings on 286.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the day’s play:
Kolhi should go back to become selfie stick of Anushka Sharma.
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
main hamesha khayal rakhunga p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->V<!---->o<!---->O<!---->5<!---->c<!---->2<!---->k<!---->9<!---->P<!---->9
— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Don't worry Virat, ye India aayenge tab dekh lenge inhe.
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Kohli Couldn't survive even one ball of Morkel in south africa. I rest my case
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/949307998987476992
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/949306744039067648
So, Kohli's weakness against fast moving balls is pooping its head out ?
— Wannabe_Winner (@Krishna249_) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
*Dhawan, Pujara and Kohli at a bar in SA*
Bartender : Sir our shots are famous. Kamikaze, Tequila, B-52 etc, which one would you like ?
Pujara: Let me decide guys, your shot selection sucks…#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Missing Thisara Perera and Rangana Herath already. ? #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->A
— Rofl Gandhi 2.0 ? (@RoflGandhi_) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
South Africa in the last two weeks have bowled 81 overs in Tests and taken 23 wickets for 216 runs. Average runs/wicket 9.39. #<!---->R<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Dale Steyn strikes immediately after Michael Holding says South Africa need a wicket from him. The champion is back after a 14 months lay-off. Great to see him in the whites. Steyn vs Kohli coming up. #<!---->M<!---->o<!---->u<!---->t<!---->h<!---->W<!---->a<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->i<!---->n<!---->g
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
looks like south africa needed some practice matches to get used to the conditions #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Shami has been a huge disappointment. He has bowled mostly like a trundler.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Dear @<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->i please send Shikhar Dhawan to Murgi Paalan Bhawan for 2 months after this tour.#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
India's slip cordon is about the perils of team bonding. Too tight in there. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Pratyush Sinha (@prat1204) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Dhawan dropping catches as if he’s going to score all the runs against Rabada-Philander-Steyn.#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
https://twitter.com/ynakg1/status/949248172831916033?
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/949248270953426944
Sabun lagakar Pears ka,
Naam mita do Devilliers ka.. ? #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A— ?️ (@RSD270) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Kohli is going soft on AB De Villiers bcoz he wants him to be in form for RCB?
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Action packed day of see-sawing fortunes yet. But if India can bowl out SA under 300 they'll fancy their chances
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Jasprit Bumrah Maiden wicket
ODI: Steve Smith
T20I: David Warner
Test: AB De Villiers
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Sincerely hoping for the amazing AB DeVilliers to score a spectacular double hundred in a losing cause.#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
AB De Villiers counter attacking and smashed four boundaries of Bhuvi over. Its all happening in first hour of the series…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
AB fighting fire with fire. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
https://twitter.com/AllTimeBakchod/status/949203690384011264?
An Indian Pacer is like Yoga, real value is realized only in foreign countries. #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Wow! This is real. Khatarnaak sruff from Bhuvi. Hope we capitalise on this great start.#<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->v<!---->S<!---->A
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
Welcome to Newlands where India are looking to avoid a series whitewash #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->i<!---->H<!---->A<!---->6<!---->V<!---->G<!---->y<!---->s<!---->p<!---->i
— Cricket365 (@Cricket365) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8
