India were 156 for five at stumps on day one of the first Test against SouthAfrica at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
Proceedings in the day were marred due to a damp pitch, an intermittentshower and finally bad light.
Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had just walked in at the fallof VVS Laxman’s wicket, decided to head back to the pavilion as soon as theumpires offered the light to the batsmen. The over from Makhya Ntini remainedincomplete, with one delivery yet to be bowled.
In all, only 56.5 overs were possible on the first day’s play andproceedings on day two on Saturday will start half hour early to make up for thelost time.
Earlier, electing to bat after winning the toss, India's batting woescontinued as the openers once again fell without making any contribution.
Little master Sachin Tendulkar wasn't averse to making good use of open spaces withsumptuous drives and flips over the slips' heads while Dravid was intent inblunting the pace attack of the South Africans.
Both were taken out of the equation by the nagging line of Jacques Kalliswho, surprisingly, was the best bowler for the hosts on the day.
Kallis had both Tendulkar and Dravid caught in the slip cordon withdeliveries that left them a shade.
After Dravid was out, India at 110 for 4 appeared in a bit of trouble but theduo of Laxman and Ganguly ensured there were no further hiccups.
Laxman gave vent to his range of strokes while Ganguly showed an unflinchingresolve, holding his ground even after being hit painfully on his shoulder byAndre Nel.
The South African pacemen seemed to carry the hangover of one-day matches anddidn't expect India to hold their ground.
They wanted a wicket off every ball and it made them sacrifice their line andlength.
Much of this trend was set by Dale Steyn who wasted the new ball and laterlimped off the field because of thigh strain, the injury which had kept him outof action much of the last three weeks.
Just before the stumps were drawn because of bad light, Laxman departed,edging a catch behind the stumps to Ntini after making 28 from 103 minutes ofbatting and hitting five fours from 67 balls.
The fifth wicket stand of 46 came from 70 balls in 91 minutes.
Ganguly retired to live another day and has so far batted for 72 minutes forhis 14 runs from 42 balls with two fours.
Mahedra Singh Dhoni came and went back without facing a ball as umpiresoffered the lights and the batsmen accepted.
Earlier, India were off to a troubled start with the two openers - WasimJaffer (9) and Virender Sehwag (4) - falling within a space of five deliveries.
Jaffer shouldered arm to an incoming delivery from Makhaya Ntini and wasruled out leg before wicket while Sehwag fell to Shaun Pollock, hanging out hisbat and edging a catch to Mark Boucher.
Jaffer had looked in good touch and was helped in no less measure by a ratherwayward Steyn upfront.
He once pulled Ntini for a four and later also guided Pollock past point forhis second boundary.
Jaffer batted for 42 minutes and 40 balls and hit two fours in his knock ofnine runs.
Sehwag, quite uncharacteristically, tried to stay put at the crease andrepeatedly shouldered arm to deliveries bowled outside his off-stump.
Only when one hoped he would see through the first session, he hung his batout and was out for 4, having faced 26 deliveries.
Dravid, out of action for three weeks, had a nasty moment when a risingPollock delivery hit him painfully in the ribs.
Tendulkar had a couple of close moments against Ntini and Pollock.
India omitted Harbhajan Singh from their squad while South Africa took theexpected decision of going in with four frontline fast bowlers.
PTI
