India reduced to 136-9 by South Africa quicks

India was reduced to 136-9 in 38.1 overs Thursday under a barrage of fast bowling by South Africa on the rain-shortened first day of the opening test at Centurion.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn shared seven wickets as the Proteas’ quick men sent India’s top-ranked test team reeling on a lively SuperSport Park pitch juiced up further by earlier rain.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was 33 not out at stumps, but Steyn and Morkel were dominant on the bowler-friendly surface as South Africa took the early advantage in the three-match series between test cricket’s top teams.

Rain had delayed play by four-and-a-half hours before South Africa won a crucial toss and put India in to bat.

India first innings

G. Gambhir c Harris b Morkel 5 V. Sehwag c Amla b Steyn 0 R. Dravid lbw b Morkel 14 S. Tendulkar lbw b Steyn 36 V. Laxman b Steyn 7 S. Raina c Prince b Kallis 1 M. Dhoni not out 33 Harbhajan Singh run out 27 Ishant Sharma c Kallis b Morkel 0 S. Sreesanth c Steyn b Morkel 0 J. Unadkat not out 1 Extras (lb-6, w-3, nb-3) 12 Total (nine wickets; 38.1 overs) 136

Fall of wickets: 1-1 2-24 3-27 4-66 5-67 6-71 7-110 8-110 9-116.

Bowling: Steyn 10-1-34-3 (w1), Morkel 12.1-5-20-4 (nb3), Tsotsobe 9-2-50-0 (w1), Kallis 6-1-20-1 (w1), Harris 1-0-6-0.