Against South Africa in their second Test at Newlands, India had an incredible collapse, losing six batsmen for nil runs on a chaotic opening day that saw the fall of 23 wickets.
After tea, the home team resumed at 153-4 and quickly went through India’s batting order, bowling them out for 153 in 11 deliveries, with three wickets apiece taken by Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger.
While South Africa’s interim captain, Dean Elgar, struggled to describe the hectic first day of play, he did say that his team will be confident in winning if they can force India to reach at least 100 runs.
“I could drink 100 all day,” Elgar declared to the press. “On this wicket, it is possible for our bowlers to rip through any batting lineup when they are clicking.”
Elgar, who had won the toss and chosen to bat first on what he knew would be a difficult surface, was out for 4 and 12 in his last Test match before retiring.
“However, I had no idea it would play that way. It didn’t appear too horrible to the unaided eye,” he remarked. However, if you put in a lot of effort, you never know what might happen at this wicket.
Mohammed Siraj claimed a Test record six-for-15, but earlier, South Africa was bowled out for just 55 in 23.2 overs, their lowest score since being readmitted to Test cricket in 1991.
With Aiden Markram undefeated at 36 and David Bedingham seven not out, South Africa trailed by 36 runs at the end of play in their second innings, ending play at 62-3.
When Rohit Sharma (39), and Shubman Gill (36), put on the highest partnership of the day—55 for the second wicket—India was looking excellent in their first innings.
Before Gill and Virat Kohli shared 33 runs for the third wicket, Burger removed Sharma. Gill was then caught in the gully by Burger, who also dismissed Shreyas Iyer for a two-ball duck.
India appeared to be in a comfortable position going into tea with Kohli scoring 46 and KL Rahul sharing a stand of 43 for the fifth wicket.
But after the interval, wickets came falling thick and quick. Rahul found himself trailing behind as Ngidi tested him with an additional bounce. After two balls, Ngidi caught Jasprit Bumrah, and two balls after that, Ravindra Jadeja went to the same bowler.
Siraj was run out, Rabada got Kohli’s wicket, and Prasidh Krishna was caught at slip to end the innings. Out of the last six hitters to be removed, five were ducks.
South Africa had collapsed embarrassingly before lunchtime earlier.
In his 23rd Test match, Paceman Siraj claimed his third five-wicket haul, his first coming against South Africa. In 2.2 overs, Bumrah claimed 2-25 and Mukesh Kumar claimed two wickets without giving up a run.
Markram came out to attack in South Africa’s second innings, hitting six fours in 51 balls.
However, Kumar caught Elgar at slip for twelve, and he also got rid of Tony de Zorzi for one, as well as Tristan Stubbs for one.
In the first game of the two-match series, South Africa prevailed by an innings and thirty-two runs.
