South Africa Vs India: Bhuvneshwar Kumar hunts SA top-order

India had a thrilling start in the Test series opener against South Africa at the Newlands in Cape Town, as the fast bowling spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made a perfect start of the day – to claim all three wickets so far in his first three overs of the day.

At lunch break on day one, the Proteas were 107 for three in 26 overs as AB de Villiers was batting on 59 off 65 balls and skipper Faf du Plessis scored 37 off 67 deliveries.

It’s pertinent to mention de Villiers, who on his return struck 53 in the Port Elizabeth four-day Test against Zimbabwe went on to register his 41st Test fifty while featuring in his 108th Test.

Right in his attacking mode, de Villiers struck 11 boundaries — to score at the strike-rate of 90.77, as du Plessis played a composed cameo which saw the latter finding the fence for seven times.

Aiming to rebuild the innings, de Villiers and du Plessis played their imperative role while registering 95-run stand for the fourth wicket after reeling at 12 for three in 4.5 overs.

Interestingly, the 27-year-old seam bowler Bhuvneshwar had a superb start in his maiden Test on South African soil which saw him bagging three wickets in his seven overs.

The right-arm bowler Bhuvneshwar went on to make things difficult for the hosts’ batsmen which saw his figures of three for 29 in 42 deliveries.

As Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram came to the bat, the hosts were in dire straits when Bhuvneshwar go rid off left-handed Elgar on nought.

Gloveman Wriddhiman Saha caught Elgar on the third-ball of South African innings.

On the final ball of his second over, Bhuvneshwar trapped the right-handed Makram in front of the stumps, as the ball jagged back prodigiously after pitching to leave the latter dumbfounded.

Terrific with the ball, Bhuvneshwar returned in his third over to dismiss prominent batsman Hashim Amla (5 off 11) when he nicked the ball that settled into the gloves of Saha.

Earlier, South African captain du Plessis won the toss and decided to bat first as Team India skipper Virat Kohli revealed they would have opted for the bowling first if coin would have fallen in their favour.

Read Further what happened in the first session of the Newlands Test:

Watch: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Dismisses Aiden Markram With Brilliant Inswinger

Here’s what you could read more: South Africa Vs India — Freedom Trophy