India in control after wickets tumble in second South Africa Test
- By AFP -
- Jan 03, 2024
India hold a good chance of levelling the series with South Africa after 23 wickets fell on the first day of the second and final Test at Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
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After being bowled out for 55 in the first innings, South Africa were 62-3 in the second innings at the close, still 36 runs short of India’s first innings total of 153.
Mohammed Siraj produced a sensational career-best spell of six for 15 as South Africa were bowled out before lunch after choosing to bat first on a pitch which gave considerable help to the fast bowlers throughout the day.
South Africa’s total was their lowest in almost 92 years, since they were bowled out for 36 and 45 by Australia on a rain-affected pitch in Melbourne in February 1932.
It was the lowest total by any team in a Test against India, beating 62 by New Zealand in Mumbai in December 2021.
Mohammed Siraj bowled superbly in an unchanged nine-over spell.
India cruised into the lead in 9.4 overs, before the afternoon drinks break.
The tourists seemed set for a substantial advantage when they reached 153-4, with the experienced Virat Kohli and KL Rahul at the crease but the remaining six wickets fell for no runs in 11 balls.
Lungi Ngidi had KL Rahul caught behind and took two more wickets in the same over.
Kagiso Rabada had Virat Kohli caught at second slip for 46 in the next over, Mohammed Siraj was run out and Prasidh Kumar caught at second slip.
Stand-in South Africa captain Dean Elgar was dismissed twice on the first day of his final Test match.
Dean Elgar was out for four and 12 in an ignominious end to a Test batting career which yielded 5347 runs in 86 matches at an average of 37.92.
Dean Elgar was bowled by Siraj in the first innings and caught by Virat Kohli at first slip off Mukesh Kumar in the second innings.
As he reluctantly left the field after his second dismissal Indian players ran to shake his hand.
Dean Elgar’s opening partner Aiden Markram made just two in the first innings but was more in command in the second innings and was unbeaten on 36 at the close.
However, Tony de Zorzi and debutant Tristan Stubbs both fell for one run.
South Africa won the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 32 runs in a match which lasted only three days. The current match seems destined to be shorter.
Related – South Africa win first India Test inside three days