South African fans came to Cape Town to watch their home team dominate proceedings yet again. Mohammed Siraj though ended those hopes as he picked his career-best figures of 6/15 from 9 overs of brilliant bowling.
The home team were bowled out for 55 runs just before the teams could head for Lunch on the first day. It was Dean Elgar who won the toss and chose to bat first on a greenish pitch. Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi came in for Keegan Petersen and Gerald Coetzee, while Tristan Stubbs was handed his Debut cap.
Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin were rested after playing the first Test in Centurion. Mukesh Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja came into the side to replace the two Indian players.
South Africa bowled out for 55 in the first innings-
As the morning session unfolded the Indian team was stamping its class with every minute. Mohammed Siraj who looked the best bowler during the Centurion Test was yet again rattling the home side.
The 29-year-old ended with his best figures in Test Matches to pick 6/15 in just 9 overs. Rohit Sharma’s decision to go in with four-seam bowlers paid dividends as the Cape Town crowd looked on in horror.
Aiden Markram began the procession when he was out for just two runs caught by Jaiswal off Siraj. Dean Elgar was then castled by the Hyderabadi fast bowler for 5 before Bumrah got debutant Stubbs for 3. At 11/3 South Africa was tottering and looking for a partnership to pull them out of trouble.
Tony De Zorzi who had a great white ball series against India was caught by KL Rahul off Siraj for two. Kyle Verreynne with 15 and David Bedingham with 12 were the only two batters to reach double figures. Both batters though fell to Siraj and Marco Jansen soon became wicket number six for the 29-year-old.
Nandre Burger was caught by Jaiswal to take his third catch of the innings to give Bumrah his second wicket. The final wicket of the session went to Mukesh Kumar who had Rabada caught by Shreyas Iyer for 5.
Here’s how the fans reacted –
Ek hee session Main Siraj ne Africa ko 55 par Hee Udaa Diya ???
Siraj on ?…ab dekho Batsman 55 Se Kitna aage badhte hain.
Over To Kings , Prince , New walls & Hitmans #SAvsInd #Siraj#INDvsSA
— Deepak Singh Kushwah (@its_dsk) January 3, 2024
Damn, now I don't like Siraj anymore?
— Gideon van Riet ?? (@gielie116302) January 3, 2024
Rohit Sharma (at toss): "We also wanted to bat first."
Siraj: "First batting toh nahi, lekin wo feel dilwa sakta hu."
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 3, 2024
Just a dream? #siraj #INDvsSA #TestCricket
— Pratik Jadhav (@pratikjadhav777) January 3, 2024
Mood right now ??#Siraj #INDvSA #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/2IVn5kdDgr
— Jyotirmay Das (@dasjy0tirmay) January 3, 2024
Mohammed Siraj, the wrecker-in-chief! 5-wicket haul dominates the cricketing narrative on Day 1. #INDvsSA #Siraj pic.twitter.com/sOVnrjlH1p
— Taarak Mehta Jr. (@TaarakMehta_Jr) January 3, 2024
6/15 Vs South Africa.
6/21 Vs Sri Lanka.– S for Siraj, S for South Africa, S for Sri Lanka, S for Sixfer….!!! pic.twitter.com/XPqbbG0TCl
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 3, 2024
SOUTH AFRICA 55 ALL-OUT.
Losing the first Test by innings & 32 runs to bossing South Africa in the first Day of 2nd Test. ?? pic.twitter.com/V1yGMdOGfe
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 3, 2024
