Bangalore - AB de Villiers fell after a heroic 85 in his 100th Test as India claimed four wickets in the second session to reduce South Africa to 177 for seven on the opening day of the second Test in Bangalore's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
De Villiers hit 11 boundaries and a six before falling at the stroke of tea, having displayed the kind of decisive footwork that was missing from his team mates.
Kyle Abbot was yet to score after facing 17 balls as South Africa battled to put up a decent first innings total and press for a series-levelling victory.
The early moisture in the wicket prompted India captain Virat Kohli to opt to field and he had reasons to feel vindicated after South Africa slumped to 78-4 soon after lunch.
After seven quiet overs, Kohli introduced Ravichandran Ashwin (3-53) and the off-spinner, who had taken eight wickets in the first Test, jolted South Africa with a double burst in his first over.
The 29-year-old from Chennai trapped Stiaan van Zyl plumb in front and had Faf du Plessis caught at short leg as South Africa slumped to 15 for two.
Dean Elgar (38) refused to let Ashwin dictate terms and stepped out to hit the bowler over his head for a towering six before his team suffered another setback.
Varun Aaron, the fastest in India's pace attack, had watched all-rounder Stuart Binny pip him to the new ball and the speedster responded by castling rival captain Hashim Amla (seven) with the final delivery of his second over.
South Africa began the second session on a poor note with Elgar fluffing a sweep shot against Ravindra Jadeja and the ball hitting his glove before rolling onto the middle stump.
JP Duminy (15) could not shine on his return to the squad and edged Ashwin to slip while Dane Vilas (15) gave Jadeja a return catch to depart.
Jadeja then dealt the biggest blow in the final delivery before the break when wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha took a one-handed catch to send back the dangerous De Villiers.
South Africa went into the match with a depleted pace attack with Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander both out injured.
The visitors also dropped off-spinner Simon Harmer, bringing in a fit-again Morne Morkel, fellow paceman Abbott and all-rounder Duminy.
Reuters