South Africa vs India, 2nd Test, Day 1: Mohammed Siraj's 6-15 headlines as 23-wicket fall on Day 1 at Newlands. Cape Town. South Africa train by 36 runs.
Brief Scores: IND 153 (Kohli 46, Ngidi 3/30, Rabada 3/38) lead SA 55 (Verreynne 15, Siraj 6/15, Mukhesh 2/0) & 62/3 (Markram 36*, Mukhesh 2/25) by 36 runs.
The day started with India destroying South Africa for 55 and finding themselves in a good position. But their collapse meant the Proteas batters would come out for batting again late in the day.
India came into the second and final Test of the series after their disheartening loss in Centurion by innings and 32 runs. South Africa after a heavy win looked to end the series on a high, as both teams locked horns for the New Year’s Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
Talking point: Both teams lack batting application
It was one of those awkward days of Test cricket when batters from both camps didn’t show any application in the middle. South Africa looked fragile in their first innings and to some extent in their second innings too. Even with a good advantage with the ball, India didn’t apply themselves with the bat.
SA opted to bat, Jadeja returned for India
SA captain Dean Elgar on winning the toss opted to bat first on a track that had a fair amount of grass on it. Ravindra Jadeja and Mukesh Kumar returned for India, while Tristan Stubbs made his SA debut.
Relentless and immaculate Siraj with 6/15 blew away SA for 55 all-out at Lunch
Everything India did with the ball in the first session gave them results. Unlike the last Test, the bowlers kept it tight and bowled with a plan. South Africa found themselves four down in the first hour.
Mohammad Siraj with his fabulous energy and awesome line and length bowled an outstanding nine over in an opening spell of 6/15 with three maidens. Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar too did the damage as no South Africa batters had any answers to India’s bowling. The Proteas were bundled out for 55 at the lunch interval.
Burger (3/42) kept SA in the contest, India showed intent to reach 111/4 at Tea, leading by 56 runs
India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early in the innings. But both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill looked to bat positively with intent. Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger bowled quite a few full-length deliveries, to which both Rohit and Gill were smashing boundaries.
But Burger came back to break the 55-run second wicket stand to send back Rohit (39). Virat Kohli began his innings aggressively, while Burger bounced out Gill (36) and Iyer (0) to get them back in the contest. India went to Tea at 111/4, leading by 56 runs.
India lost the last six wickets for no runs and ended up at 153 with a 98-run lead
Rahul and Virat took India to 153/4, and they were looking good to get a lead of over 150 runs. Rahul, trying to uppercut, got an inside edge to the wicket-keeper and India from 153/4 were bundled out for 153, as they lost their last six wickets for no runs.
Markram’s intent took SA to 62/3, trailing by 36 runs
Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram began South Africa’s second innings batting on a positive note, thanks to their 37-run stand. But Mukhesh Kumar came back to get India back in the game with quick wickets. South Africa finished the day at 62/3, thanks to Markram’s attacking 36*, trailing by 36 runs.
What’s to come
India will look to bundle out South Africa as early as possible to keep the target in check, especially on a track where 23 wickets fell on the first day. Anything over 150 could be nearly impossible to chase.
Statistical highlights from Day 1 of SA vs IND 2nd Test
Dean Elgar becomes the fourth SA batter to score 1000+ Test runs against India.
Siraj now has the third-best bowling figure (6/15) for India against SA in SA.
Siraj’s 6/15 is the second-best bowling figure for India at Newlands.
Jasprit Bumrah becomes the joint-highest wicket-taker (12) for India against SA in Cape Town.
55 is now SA’s lowest team total in Tests played in the post-apartheid era.
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