Surface tension, ‘sensational’ bowling hits SA

In what is called the Freedom Series, South Africa started by channeling their inner Bazball.

- Dhiman Sarkar

They got their first 50-run partnership in 17 innings in India with openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton scoring freely; there were eight fours and one six in the first 45 minutes.

Temba Bavuma had spoken of South Africa being “super excited” at playing in front of the kind of crowd they do not get back home. Well, there were 36,513 on the first day and, having put his coin-toss skills to good use, South Africa were walking their skipper's talk. The openers were Jasprit Bumrah-ed but, after a session even and exciting in equal measure, South Africa took lunch at 105/3.

And then on a wicket where the second ball of the day kept low and the third rose menacingly, they skidded, slipped and slid to 159 all out in 55 overs. Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi were dismissed in six overs after lunch and it went downhill from there. Five wickets and 49 runs in the second session told its own story. South Africa lost seven wickets for 45 runs.