India takes 36-run 1st-innings lead over SA

JOHANNESBURG: India quickly wrapped up South Africa’s tail to bowl the top-ranked team out for 244 in the first test at the Wanderers on Friday for a 36-run lead.

The No. 2-ranked Indians´ first-innings advantage was primarily down to Ishant Sharma´s 4-79 on a pace-friendly pitch in Johannesburg, and Zaheer Khan returned from a yearlong absence from test cricket to take 4-88, including three of the four wickets to fall at the start of day three.

Vernon Philander reached his third test half-century with a blazing cover drive off the first ball of the day, but he was caught by Ravichandran Ashwin at slip off Khan for 59 to end an 80-run stand with Faf du Plessis for the seventh wicket and South Africa fell away.

India took the last four wickets for 31 runs in under 10 overs for a precious lead on a green pitch proving especially difficult to bat on. The tourists´ advantage was soon past 50 as opening batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay built on the bowlers´ work.

Philander and Du Plessis, who made a grinding 20 from 77 balls, saved South Africa from a worse fate after it was reduced to 146-6 in a mid-innings burst by Sharma late on Thursday.

Philander, the tailender who took charge of the late partnership, hit seven fours in all to lift his struggling side, including two off the first over of the third day.

But India was in control of the morning from the moment Philander nicked a quick one to Ashwin and departed. Dale Steyn also edged Ishant Sharma to Rohit Sharma in the slips and Du Plessis was caught behind off a fierce Khan delivery.

Veteran left-armer Khan, recalled for his first test since December 2012, ended South Africa´s resistance by bowling Morne Morkel to finish with an impressive haul on his return. He and Sharma also put India in prime position to take an early lead in the short two-test contest and put South Africa´s 13-series unbeaten run under pressure.

India hasn´t won a series away from home since 2011. (AFP)