Mohali, November 5

Part-time spinner Dean Elgar ripped through India’s batting line-up with four wickets as South Africa made the hosts rue their decision to bat first on the opening day of the first Test today.

India captain Virat Kohli said he felt Thursday would be the best day for batting on the spin friendly Mohali track but his side failed to capitalise as they were bundled out for 201 after tea to make it an unhappy 26th birthday for the skipper. South Africa did not fare much better with the bat as India’s spinners picked up two quick wickets to leave the touring side in a spot of bother at 28-2 at stumps.

Opener Stiaan van Zyl was out leg before when he shouldered arms to Ravichandran Ashwin, while Faf du Plessis was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja with the ball hitting his off-stump after he had left it. Elgar (13) and captain Hashim Amla (nine) were at the crease at the close of play.

Earlier, paceman Vernon Philander sent back opener Shikhar Dhawan (zero) before India had even got on the scoreboard when he edged one to Amla at slip in the second over of the day. India recovered from the early jolt through a second-wicket stand of 63 between Murali Vijay (75) and Cheteshwar Pujara (31), forcing Amla to make a bowling change with Elgar.

The left-armer made an immediate impact by dismissing Pujara leg before with his fourth delivery. The dismissal brought Kohli to the crease but debutant fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, 20, made it a birthday to forget for the batsman when he had him caught at short cover off a leading edge for his first wicket in Tests. Elgar finished with career-best figures of 4-22.

Aussies punish Kiwis

BRISBANE: David Warner backed up his words with action as he hit his 13th Test century while recalled Usman Khawaja claimed his maiden ton as Australia took an iron grip on their Test series opener against New Zealand on Thursday. The outspoken Warner lived up to his feisty words with his second-highest Test score against an underwhelming Kiwi bowling attack at the Gabba. With Warner plundering 163 runs off 224 balls, the Australians pounded the ragged Black Caps to go to stumps at 389-2 and a record first day Test score. Khawaja also cashed in reaching his first Test century just before the close and was unbeaten on 102 with skipper Steve Smith not out on 41.

Pakistan seal series

SHARJAH: Spin trio of Shoaib Malik, Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar shared nine wickets between them to help Pakistan beat England by a big 127-run margin in the third and final Test in Sharjah on Thursday.

Shah finished with 4-44, Malik took 3-26 and Babar grabbed 2-31 to bundle England out for 156 soon after lunch on the final day for a 2-0 series win. England, set 284 to win, were always on the back foot on a turning pitch as only Alastair Cook showed some resistance during his 241-minute fight, scoring 63 runs. It was Malik who gave Pakistan Cook’s wicket, stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed, to finish with seven wickets in the match.