Part-time spinner Dean Elgar took four wickets on Thursday to help South Africa bowl India out for a paltry 201 on day one of the first Test at Mohali. This was before the visitors lost two wickets in the final session to end the day at 28-2.

On a slow track that gave plenty of assistance to the spin bowlers, Elgar’s 4-22 ensured that India did not make any major gain after winning the toss. The hosts’ batting line-up failed to turn up, as opener Murali Vijay top-scored with 75 and no other Indian batsman managed to score a half-century.

A valuable 42-run eighth-wicket partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin (20 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (38) saved India the blushes after being 154-7 at one point. The pair then picked up a wicket each to peg the visitors back, setting up an enthralling second day.