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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| India batsmen in first day slump | India batsmen in first day slump |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| India's illustrious batting line-up found the going tough on a truncated opening day of the series against South Africa, reaching 156-5 at the close. | India's illustrious batting line-up found the going tough on a truncated opening day of the series against South Africa, reaching 156-5 at the close. |
| Following a 90-minute delay for damp patches on the pitch, India chose to bat but soon slipped to 14-2. | Following a 90-minute delay for damp patches on the pitch, India chose to bat but soon slipped to 14-2. |
| Rahul Dravid (32) and Sachin Tendulkar put on 69 in 25 overs but Tendulkar (44) edged to slip just before tea. | Rahul Dravid (32) and Sachin Tendulkar put on 69 in 25 overs but Tendulkar (44) edged to slip just before tea. |
| VVS Laxman fell just before an early close but returning ex-captain Sourav Ganguly was unbeaten on 14 in 42 balls. | VVS Laxman fell just before an early close but returning ex-captain Sourav Ganguly was unbeaten on 14 in 42 balls. |
| Ganguly has not featured at Test level for 10 months and many believed his Test career was finished. | Ganguly has not featured at Test level for 10 months and many believed his Test career was finished. |
| The tourists also included another experienced middle order batsman, VVS Laxman, but left out Harbhajan Singh to play Anil Kumble with a three-pronged seam attack. | The tourists also included another experienced middle order batsman, VVS Laxman, but left out Harbhajan Singh to play Anil Kumble with a three-pronged seam attack. |
| South Africa also banked on an all-seam attack of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel. | South Africa also banked on an all-seam attack of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel. |
| Test specialist batsmen Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince returned to the team. | Test specialist batsmen Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince returned to the team. |
| Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje was not replaced after his sudden decision on Tuesday to retire. | Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje was not replaced after his sudden decision on Tuesday to retire. |
| Ganguly averages over 40 from his 88 Test matches | |
| There was an unusual delay to proceedings when it emerged that hessian sheets that had been used to protect the pitch from sun had caused sweating and left damp patches, which were combated with an implement resembling a hairdrier. | There was an unusual delay to proceedings when it emerged that hessian sheets that had been used to protect the pitch from sun had caused sweating and left damp patches, which were combated with an implement resembling a hairdrier. |
| The first wicket fell with the final ball of the 10th over when Wasim Jaffer chose to play no stroke at the familiar angling in pace of Ntini and a became a prime lbw candidate. | The first wicket fell with the final ball of the 10th over when Wasim Jaffer chose to play no stroke at the familiar angling in pace of Ntini and a became a prime lbw candidate. |
| In the next over, Pollock, who later hit Dravid in the chest with a ball that rose up off a good length, found Virender Sehwag's outside edge. | In the next over, Pollock, who later hit Dravid in the chest with a ball that rose up off a good length, found Virender Sehwag's outside edge. |
| Tendulkar was looking increasingly settled, with four boundaries, when Kallis found a little extra bounce, coupled with some movement away off the seam. | Tendulkar was looking increasingly settled, with four boundaries, when Kallis found a little extra bounce, coupled with some movement away off the seam. |
| The master batsman played one remarkable stroke when he leaned back to a ball jagging back in towards his chest and angled his bat to guide over slips. | The master batsman played one remarkable stroke when he leaned back to a ball jagging back in towards his chest and angled his bat to guide over slips. |
| He was in search of his 42nd Test half-century in his 133rd match, but prodded forward and AB de Villiers took a catch at comfortable height at second slip. | He was in search of his 42nd Test half-century in his 133rd match, but prodded forward and AB de Villiers took a catch at comfortable height at second slip. |
| An impending thunderstorm prompted an early tea but shortly after a delayed resumption, Dravid, fit to take his place after a finger injury, also fell victim to a full-length, away-swinging delivery from Kallis. | An impending thunderstorm prompted an early tea but shortly after a delayed resumption, Dravid, fit to take his place after a finger injury, also fell victim to a full-length, away-swinging delivery from Kallis. |
| Skipper Graeme Smith took a neat low catch by his boots at first slip. | Skipper Graeme Smith took a neat low catch by his boots at first slip. |
| With the ball moving considerably off the seam for all the bowlers, perhaps accentuated by the floodlights, Laxman was next to go, in what turned out to be the final ball of the day. | With the ball moving considerably off the seam for all the bowlers, perhaps accentuated by the floodlights, Laxman was next to go, in what turned out to be the final ball of the day. |
| Ntini, from wide of the crease as ever, got one to straighten and found the edge through to keeper Mark Boucher. | Ntini, from wide of the crease as ever, got one to straighten and found the edge through to keeper Mark Boucher. |
| Ganguly would no doubt have preferred easier conditions for his return. | Ganguly would no doubt have preferred easier conditions for his return. |
| In addition to the uncertain weather and the seaming ball, he was subjected to some typically fierce verbal jousting from the inimitable Andre Nel, who struck him in the chest with a brutal lifting delivery. | In addition to the uncertain weather and the seaming ball, he was subjected to some typically fierce verbal jousting from the inimitable Andre Nel, who struck him in the chest with a brutal lifting delivery. |
| Much to his chagrin, however, the paceman could find no way past the left-hander. | Much to his chagrin, however, the paceman could find no way past the left-hander. |
| As Mahendra Singh Dhoni strolled out to the crease, umpires Daryl Harper and Mark Benson decided that the setting sun over the stands, combined with the artificial lights, presented problems. |