Kanpur, Apr 11(UNI) A cautious South Africa were 80 for one at lunch on the opening day of the third and final Test against India here today.
Skipper Graeme Smith was at the crease on 31 runs while Hashim Amla was on 11 after the first session of play. The only wicket to fall was of Neil McKenzie, who was stumped by Dhoni off a well flighted delivery from leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
Earlier, after winning the crucial toss, South Africa choose to bat first and they carried on from where they had left at Ahmedabad, scoring more than four runs per over off the Indian pacers.
Skipper Dhoni, who made a record by becoming the first Indian Wicketkeeper to lead the country in a Test match, brought in Harbhajan Singh in the ninth over of the match. Harbhajan bowled nine overs from the pavillion end but failed to make a breakthrough.
The hot weather conditions also created problems for the players and the umpires who had to go for drinks twice during the two hour pre-lunch session in which 25 overs were bolwed.
The first success of the Indian side came in the 18 over, just after the second drink interval when McKenzie came forward to hit the ball over mid-on. He missed the flight of Chawla's delivery and the rest was done by Dhoni. McKenzie played 57 balls and scored 36 runs with 5 hits to the fence.
After the fall of the first wicket, Indian spinners- Harbhajan and Chawla- tried to put on extra pressure on new commer Hashim Amla but they failed to achieve anything even after beating regularly.
Earlier, Team India made three changes in the playing XI whereas South Africa retained the same team which played in the last Test match.
UNI MB RKM SSC1358
Skipper Graeme Smith was at the crease on 31 runs while Hashim Amla was on 11 after the first session of play. The only wicket to fall was of Neil McKenzie, who was stumped by Dhoni off a well flighted delivery from leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
Earlier, after winning the crucial toss, South Africa choose to bat first and they carried on from where they had left at Ahmedabad, scoring more than four runs per over off the Indian pacers.
Skipper Dhoni, who made a record by becoming the first Indian Wicketkeeper to lead the country in a Test match, brought in Harbhajan Singh in the ninth over of the match. Harbhajan bowled nine overs from the pavillion end but failed to make a breakthrough.
The hot weather conditions also created problems for the players and the umpires who had to go for drinks twice during the two hour pre-lunch session in which 25 overs were bolwed.
The first success of the Indian side came in the 18 over, just after the second drink interval when McKenzie came forward to hit the ball over mid-on. He missed the flight of Chawla's delivery and the rest was done by Dhoni. McKenzie played 57 balls and scored 36 runs with 5 hits to the fence.
After the fall of the first wicket, Indian spinners- Harbhajan and Chawla- tried to put on extra pressure on new commer Hashim Amla but they failed to achieve anything even after beating regularly.
Earlier, Team India made three changes in the playing XI whereas South Africa retained the same team which played in the last Test match.
UNI MB RKM SSC1358
Oneindia Login