Invited to bat, South Africa were all out for 214 in their first innings on day one of the second Test against India, in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
At close of play on Day 1, India were comfortably placed on 80 for no loss in 22 overs with Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan remaining unbeaten on 28 and 45 respectively.
PHOTOS: AB's baby, parents witness his landmark 100-Test in Bengaluru
Spin duo Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin spun a web around South Africa. Ashwin (4/70) was the best bowler on view even though Jadeja (4/50) had better figures to show for his efforts as the hosts exploited the favourable conditions.
More than turn on offer from the pitch, it was execution that brought downfall of Hashim Amla and Co as De Villiers showed his teammates how to negotiate a sub-continental track.
AB De Villiers top scored for the Proteas with his 85-run knock.
De Villiers came out to a standing ovation from the Chinnaswamy crowd with the now familiar chants of ‘ABD ABD’ reverberating across the stands.
Playing his 100th Test in the city De Villiers represents in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, top scored for the visitors with a defiant 85 that included 11 boundaries and a six.
It was Wriddhiman Saha, who took a brilliant catch running forward off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling to bring an end to the dangerous De Villiers' stay.
Earlier, more than turn on offer from the pitch, it was poor shot execution that brought downfall of Hashim Amla and Co. as De Villiers showed how to play on a sub-continental track.
It was Ashwin, who was undoubtedly the best Indian bowler on view. The Tamil Nadu tweaker was introduced into the attack in the 8th over after Stuart Binny could hardly trouble the openers after being entrusted with the duty of sharing the new ball with Ishant.
Ashwin immediately got into the act with twin strikes in his very first over. It took him only two balls to draw the first blood for India. He flighted one that straightened after pitching and caught opener Stiaan van Zyl (10) plumb in-front. The ball was hitting the middle stump.
Faf du Plessis (0) wanted to use his feet as Ashwin altered the length but as he came down and tried to whip one, Cheteshwar Pujara at short-leg took a reflex catch crouching low. The visitors were reduced to 15 for two in 8 overs. While third umpire adjudged it as clean catch, TV replays showed that part of the ball was touching the ground.
Skipper Hashim Amla (7) and Elgar tried to do some repair work as they added 30 runs in which the left handed opener hit a straight six off Ashwin.
However Aaron, who came in as the second change, struck in his third over to compound Amla’s miseries. The South African captain played inside the line to a delivery that did not shape in enough and in the process knocked the off-stump back to make it 45 for three.
The post lunch session had started on a bright note for India as Ravindra Jadeja struck with the second ball of the session as Dean Elgar (38), who looked like putting up a resistance dragged one onto his stumps trying a sweep shot.
JP Duminy (15) could not shine on his return to the squad and Dane Vilas (15) fell to a soft dismissal to compound South Africa's crisis after lunch.
It was Morne Morkel (22) and Kyle Abbott (14), who added 37 runs for the ninth wicket to take South Africa past 200-run mark for the first time in the Test series.
India lead the four-match series 1-0, having beaten South Africa inside three days on a turning track in Mohali.
