Steyn stars in Ahmedabad

Dale Steyn completes the rout of India for 76 by bowling Sri Sreesanth © Getty Images

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Dale Steyn took 5-23 as India were skittled out for 76, allowing South Africa to take control on the opening day of the second Test in Ahmedabad in which 14 wickets fell.

The Proteas needed just 20 overs before lunch to polish off India, who made their second-lowest total on home soil after electing to bat.

Harbhajan Singh gave India a glimmer of hope with three quick wickets either side of tea to peg back a strong South Africa response, but half-centuries from Jacques Kallis (60 not out) and AB de Villiers (59 not out) saw the Proteas reach 223 for four at the close of play, a lead of 147.

The Ahmedabad pitch offered plenty to both pace and spin bowlers, contrasting with the flat Chennai wicket of the first Test.

But many India batsmen were architects of their own downfall as they collapsed in under two hours, the shortest completed innings ever on the sub-continent.

Wasim Jaffer edged to slip on three off Makhaya Ntini in the fourth over, before Virender Sehwag, who in the first Test hit the highest ever score by an Indian batsman with 319, was bowled by Steyn off an inside edge for six.

Ntini, who claimed 3-18, then bowled VVS Laxman for three, and in the same over Sourav Ganguly played-on for a duck.

Steyn found the off-stump of Rahul Dravid, before Morne Morkel, who took 2-20, had Mahendra Singh Dhoni caught behind for 14 and bowled Anil Kumble two balls later for nought.

Jacques Kallis clips to leg on his way to 60 not out on the first day's play © Getty Images

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Steyn, 24, then mopped-up the tail, trapping Harbhajan Singh lbw for one, while RP Singh and Sreesanth failed to score.

Irfan Pathan, named in place of injured batsman Sachin Tendulkar, top scored for the hosts with 21 not out, though 19 extras were also conceded.

Pathan found it more difficult with the new ball as Neil McKenzie and Proteas captain Graeme Smith put on a quickfire 78 in response.

But Smith was trapped lbw for 34 by Sreesanth in the 16th over, and Kumble found further success when he introduced Harbhajan 10 minutes before tea.

McKenzie looked set for a half-century, but Harbhajan elicited some turn from the pitch and got the wicket with his 10th delivery, the last before tea, with a ball which turned from outside off stump and found a thick outside edge to Dravid at first slip.

Harbhajan then grabbed the wicket of Hashim Amla for 16, caught by Jaffer at short leg.

The 27-year-old spinner was hit for six by Kallis in the 30th over but, just three balls later, snared Ashwell Prince for two, lbw to a flighted spinner which gripped the pitch and straightened.

South Africa had fallen from 100 for one to 117 for four but Kallis and De Villiers played patiently, each reaching a half-century late in the day’s play.

Pathan missed a run-out attempt in the 53rd over, conceding five overthrows off his own bowling after missing with a shy at the stumps, and Kallis survived a late lbw appeal from Sreesanth when television replays showed the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.