New Delhi: India gained a firm grip on the second and final Test against South Africa as a record-breaking 23 wickets tumbled on the opening day at Cape Town on Wednesday. India bowled out South Africa for a paltry 55 in the first innings and then took a 98-run lead by scoring 153. South Africa, in their second innings, were 62 for three at stumps, still trailing by 36 runs.
India’s pace trio wreaks havoc
India’s pace trio of Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mukesh Kumar ran through the South African batting line-up in the first session, dismissing them for their lowest Test score against India. Siraj was the pick of the bowlers with six for 17, his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests. Bumrah and Mukesh chipped in with two wickets each.
Only three South African batsmen reached double figures, with captain Dean Elgar top-scoring with 15. India’s fielding was also sharp, with four catches and two run-outs.
South Africa fight back with the ball
South Africa’s bowlers showed some fight in the second session, as they reduced India to 153 all out. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger claimed three wickets each, while Anrich Nortje took one. India’s top-order failed to capitalize on the good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma (34) and Mayank Agarwal (25), who added 50 for the first wicket.
India lost their last six wickets for no runs, as South Africa’s pacers exploited the seam and bounce on the pitch. Rishabh Pant was the highest scorer for India with 38, while Ravichandran Ashwin made 24.
South Africa lost early wickets in the second innings
South Africa faced the daunting task of wiping out the deficit and setting a competitive target for India in the second innings. However, they lost three early wickets to India’s pacers, as Bumrah, Siraj, and Mukesh struck again. Bumrah dismissed Elgar for a duck, while Siraj removed Keegan Petersen (8) and Rassie van der Dussen (4).
Aiden Markram and David Bedingham survived till the end of the day, with Markram unbeaten on 36 and Bedingham on seven. South Africa will need a big partnership from them to avoid an innings defeat and level the series.
Records galore on day one
The first day of the Cape Town Test witnessed several records being broken or equalled, as the bowlers dominated the proceedings. Here are some of the notable ones:
- The 23 wickets that fell on day one are the second-most in a single day of Test cricket. The record is 25 wickets, which fell on the second day of the Melbourne Test between Australia and England in 1902.
- The six wickets that India lost for no runs are the most by any team at a particular score in a Test innings. The previous record was five wickets, which happened four times in Test history.
- Siraj’s six for 17 are the best bowling figures by an Indian pacer in South Africa, surpassing Sreesanth’s five for 40 in Johannesburg in 2006.
- India’s 98-run lead is their highest first-innings lead in South Africa, surpassing their 77-run lead in Durban in 2010.
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Most wickets on the first day of a Test | 25 – Australia vs England, Melbourne, 1902 23 – South Africa vs India, Cape Town, 2024 22 – England vs Australia, The Oval, 1890 22 – Australia vs West Indies, Adelaide, 1951 21 – South Africa vs England, Gqebarha, 1896 |
| Most wickets falling at a particular score in a Test innings | 6 (153/4 to 153 all out) – India vs South Africa, Cape Town 2024 5 (37/2 to 37/7) – New Zealand v Australia, Wellington, 1946 5 (59/4 to 59/9) – New Zealand vs Pak, Rawalpindi CC, 1965 5 (133/2 to 133/7) – New Zealand v South Africa, Hamilton, 2012 5 (134/5 to 134 all-out) – BAN vs ZIM, Harare, 2013 |
| Best bowling figures by an Indian pacer in South Africa | 6/17 – Mohammad Siraj, Cape Town, 2024 5/40 – Sreesanth, Johannesburg, 2006 5/54 – Javagal Srinath, Cape Town, 1997 5/60 – Zaheer Khan, Cape Town, 2007 5/94 – Ishant Sharma, Johannesburg, 2013 |
| Highest first-innings lead by India in South Africa | 98 – Cape Town, 2024 77 – Durban, 2010 66 – Johannesburg, 2006 42 – Johannesburg, 2018 17 – Centurion, 2010 |
