Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel tormented India's batsmen on the opening day of the first Test, bowling with pace and intensity on a SuperSport Park pitch that was their ally, as South Africa seized the contest.
India was embarrassed after being asked to bat by Graeme Smith on a wicket that had pace, bounce, and movement, but wasn't unplayable by any means.
Only Sachin Tendulkar (36), Harbhajan Singh (27), and M.S. Dhoni (33 batting) crossed 15 in India's score of 136 for nine in 38.1 overs.
Steyn (three for 34) and Morkel (four for 20) complemented each other, as they have so often done, to delight a home crowd that had come to watch the world's two best sides (although only one played to reputation).
That there was any play at all was surprising considering that Thursday morning was dull and grey and rainy. So relentlessly did it rain that the teams didn't bother leaving their impossibly posh Johannesburg hotel till a little after noon.
Dream start
Play started at 3 p.m. (local time), which was a tribute to the ground's drainage and the ground-staff's diligence. And what a period of play it was! At least for those who prefer their cricket when the bowlers aren't emasculated by conditions that privilege batting.
Steyn vs. Sehwag lasted three balls — two judicious ‘leave-alones' and a wild slap outside the off-stump that travelled off the edge to third-man, placed there for that very purpose. South Africa couldn't have begun better; nor could India have begun worse.
Morkel bowled a torrid spell to Gautam Gambhir, lifting the left-handed opener off his feet with nasty bouncers from around the wicket.
Where Gambhir was finding life difficult — Morkel permitted him not a run for 20 consecutive balls — Dravid showed some of the calm mastery of old. Morkel switched ends to earn the rewards that had till then eluded him.
Gambhir, pinned to the crease by Morkel's length and pace, fell to a full, slightly wide ball that moved marginally away to gain the edge to first slip. As is common in such set-up jobs, the batsman couldn't transfer his weight forward in time. The hands pushed out in compensation.
Morkel then trapped Dravid in front with one that came back. It also didn't rise as Dravid expected, and although he collapsed like an accordion, he couldn't get his bat around in time. It was Morkel's 100th Test wicket.
Further collapse
Sachin Tendulkar, who attacked Lonwabo Tsotsobe with two thrilling pulls, a cover-drive, and an adept steer, and V.V.S. Laxman, who appeared to have all the time in the world against Steyn and Morkel's pace, ensured India lost no further wickets before tea.
But any hopes India might have had of a recovery swiftly receded. Steyn took Laxman out with a fine bit of bowling. The angle of the delivery, into the right-hander, made Laxman commit to his famous whip through leg; but it swung wickedly late at pace to detonate the middle-stump.
Steyn also ended Tendulkar's sparkling 34-ball 36, persuading one to hold its line instead of leaving the right-hander. The length was perfect for the purpose, for the great man couldn't press forward. In between, Jacques Kallis put Suresh Raina out of his misery, having him caught at third slip.
Harbhajan hit out even as he withdrew from the line. But he was run out when his bat got stuck in the surface as he tried to complete a third run, and Mark Boucher's clever back-flick unseated the bails.
Morkel accounted for Ishant (caught at slip off a lifter) and Sreesanth (caught at mid-off off a full ball), but Dhoni batted with all the smartness and skill he could muster to resist South Africa.
Battling it out
The Indian captain wasn't always convincing, but, to his credit, he didn't give up. Without Zaheer Khan — India handed Jaidev Unadkat a debut after Zaheer wasn't passed fit for the match — the touring side finds itself backed to a corner.
Champion teams respond by fighting back with everything they have. How will India, which has shown it can do just that, respond?
