SA vs IND 1st Test: Pandya lifts India to 209; Proteas get 77-run lead

Cape Town: Riding on the back of a sensational 93-run knock by Hardik Pandya, India managed to reach to a respectable total of 209 runs in reply to South Africa's 286 in the first inning of the first Test at the Newlands here on Saturday.

South Africa has got a crucial 77-run first innings lead as they wrapped up the Indian batting for 209 runs.

Hardik Pandya came to the crease when India was reeling under pressure at 76/5 when 'The Wall' Cheteshwar Pujara (26 off 92) departed. Instantly after coming to the crease, he started to play his natural game and kept finding boundaries.

Pandya's shot-making released the pressure and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25 off 86) stitched a 99-run partnership with him for the eighth wicket. Wriddhiman Saha was a disappointment as he could not even open his account.

Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander picked up three wickets each while Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel took two each. Keshav Maharaj remained wicket-less.

Resuming the second session on 76/4, batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (26) and Ravichandran Ashwin (12) failed to get going from the onset.

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The Saurashtra batsman was sent back without scoring a run by delivery outside off from Philander which was taken easily at second slip by skipper Faf du Plessis. Later, Ashwin (12) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) were also sent back to the pavillion in quick succession.

The struggling Indian innings, however, came to a recovery with a blistering 68-ball innings from Pandya — who was tactically send down the order. The Baroda batsman hit 13 boundaries and one hit over the fence in his unbeaten innings.

Complimenting Pandya, incoming batsman Bhuvneshwar played a perfect second fiddle getting off the mark in the 32nd delivery he faced. The pacer played on the defence allowing his fellow batsman who looked in form to take charge of the innings.

The Proteas were seen to introduce their lone spinner Keshav Maharaj (0/15) for the first time in the second session. The only trouble for the hosts came in form of their premier pacer Steyn — who was seen limping off the ground during the 61st over.