SA vs IND: 2nd Test, Day 1 Review – 23 wickets fell as bowlers ruled the roost
The second Test between India and South Africa started on Wednesday, January 3, at Newlands, Cape Town. It turned out to be an eventful affair as a total of 23 wickets fell on the day. Dean Elgar won the toss and chose to bat first. From the get-go, the conditions tilted in favor of the Indian seamers, and they were on point.
Mohammed Siraj drew first blood as he dismissed Aiden Markram. Siraj tested the techniques of the South African batters and they were all at sea against his masterful bowling. In a nine-over new-ball spell, the right-arm pacer bagged a six-for. He received commendable support from Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar, who picked up two wickets each as the home side were bowled out for a record 55, in the first session itself.
Kagiso Rabada sent back Yashasvi Jaiswal in the third over. Further, Rohit Sharma took the attack to the Proteas bowlers and along with Shubman Gill, adding 55 runs. The Indian captain departed after scoring 39 off 50 balls. Virat Kohli and Gill then stitched a 43-run partnership.
Gill and Shreyas Iyer departed in quick succession as India slipped to 110/4 but KL Rahul and Kohli tried to extend India’s lead. However, once their partnership ended in the 34th over, the last six wickets fell in the space of a shell-shocking 11 balls without a penny added to the total. The tourists were rolled over for 153, taking a 98-run lead.
In the second innings, South Africa got off to a sedate start as Markram and Elgar added 37. Mukesh Kumar dismissed the southpaw by getting him out at first slip in his final Test innings. Kumar struck again in his next over, sending Tony de Zorzi packing. Bumrah then picked up Tristan Stubbs, the 23rd and last wicket to fall on a happening Day 1. South Africa finished the day on 62/3, trailing by 36 runs.
Top Performers of the Match
Virat Kohli (46 off 59): The right-handed batter hit six fours and one six in his counter-attacking innings of 46 off 59 balls. He looked good during his stay at the crease, even as India lost wickets from the other end. He was dismissed by Rabada, caught sharply at second slip by Markram.
Mohammed Siraj (6/15, 9 overs): Siraj looked in red-hot form as he made the new ball talk. The South African batters had no answers to his questions. Siraj ended with excellent figures of 6/15 in his nine overs, which he bowled on the trot.
