South Africa were skittled out for a record-low 55 in the first innings of the second Test against India in Cape Town on Tuesday, Jan 3, 2024, their lowest total at home and the joint-fourth lowest in the history of Test cricket.
Mohammed Siraj was the wrecker-in-chief, taking a career-best 6-15 in a devastating spell before lunch on the opening day.
His figures are the second-best ever recorded before lunch on the first day of a Test match, behind only Malcolm Marshall’s 7-19 against Pakistan in Lahore in 1989.
India’s pace attack made the most of the helpful conditions, with Jasprit Bumrah (2-13) and Shardul Thakur (2-14) also chipping in with wickets.
South Africa’s capitulation was as dramatic as it was unexpected. They had reached 38-3 before Siraj struck, dismissing Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, and Rassie van der Dussen in quick succession.
The rest of the batsmen followed in procession, with only Temba Bavuma (10) and Keshav Maharaj (11) reaching double figures.
Mohammed Siraj 15/6
When the latest report came in, India’s score was 138 for the loss of four wickets. There were two ducks as well in the Indian side. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. Skipper Rohit Sharma (39) and Shubman Gill (36) took the score to 72 runs.
Virat Kohli (43) and wicket keeper K L Rahul (1) were batting the score of 140/4 in 30 overs. The pitch is swinging and helping the bowlers a lot. It will be interesting to see how much lead will the Indian get against SA in their first innings, Currently the lead is 89 runs.
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