Day 2, Ind vs SA first Test: Ashwin's fifer leads India's charge

Mohali: Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin battered top-ranked South Africa with a five-wicket haul to leave India in control of the bowler-dominated first Test in Mohali on Friday.

India, shot out for 201 in the first innings on a dusty, dry wicket, hit back to skittle the Proteas for 184 on the second day at the IS Bindra-PCA Stadium.

The hosts went to stumps on 125 for two in their second knock to take an overall lead of 142 runs with eight wickets in hand in conditions that are tailor-made for the bowlers.

Murali Vijay followed his top-score of 75 in the first innings with 47, sharing a second wicket partnership of 86 with Cheteshwar Pujara, who remained unbeaten on 63 with six fours and a six.

The pair came together after left-handed Shikhar Dhawan bagged a pair, edging Vernon Philander to the slip cordon for the second time in the match without scoring.

Vijay fell to a brilliant one-handed catch at short-leg by substitute fielder Temba Bavuma off Imran Tahir.

Ashwin proved almost unplayable as he finished with five for 51, reaching the 150-wicket mark in his 29th Test with the dismissal of last man Imran Tahir.

All 10 South African wickets fell to Indian spinners with left-armer Ravindra Jadeja taking three for 55 and leg-break bowler Amit Mishra taking two for 35.

AB de Villiers (63) and skipper Hashim Amla (43) were the only visiting batsmen to offer resistance after Dean Elgar's 37 as the rest failed to reach double figures.

De Villiers was lucky to be still batting after the television umpire Vineet Kulkarni ruled that Ravindra Jadeja had bowled a no-ball when the batsman was caught in the slips by Indian captain Virat Kohli.

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Dean Elgar and skipper Hashim Amla, who resumed the day at 28-2, put on 76 for the third wicket before India hit back with three wickets in the space of 22 runs.

Elgar, whose part-time left-arm spin had bagged four wickets on the first day, made 37 when he top-edged an attempted pull shot off Ashwin to Jadeja at point.

Amla appeared to be finding form after a lean patch in the one-day series as he negotiated the turning ball to move to 43.

Amla appeared to be finding form after a lean patch in the one-day series before Ashwin had him stumped as the batsman stepped out of the crease to smother the spin and missed the line of the ball.

Four balls later, Jadeja took a fine running catch at backward point to get rid of Dane Vilas and reduce the Proteas to 107-5.

Vilas clueless on countering spin, ends up handing Jadeja a catch. #IndvsSA https://t.co/naGsmOQW7j

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 6, 2015

Jadeja and Mishra shared the next four wickets, including the vital one of de Villiers, who was bowled by the leg-spinner to be ninth out.

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