Cricket South Africa vs India 2023

'Absolute cinema' - Twitter floods with reactions as first day of SA vs IND Cape Town Test saw 23 wickets fell within score of 260 runs

Both South Africa and India got their first innings wrapped up just on the first day of the second Test of the two-match series, at the Newlands in Cape Town.

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Mathew K
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South Africa vs India (File Photo: Twitter)

South Africa vs India (File Photo: Twitter)

The first day of the second Test of the three-match series between South Africa and India in Cape Town saw a wicket-fest as the bowlers of both teams celebrated the new year in a convincing style. A total of 23 wickets fell just within the 260 runs at the time of stumps.

Firstly, the hosts’ skipper Dean Elgar won the toss and decided to bat first; however, his decision backfired and the Proteas got bundled out just at the score of 55 runs in the first innings. Star Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj claimed his Test career’s best bowling figures, claiming 6 wickets at the cost of only 15 runs in 9 overs, including 3 maiden overs. 

Besides Siraj, his pace bowling partners Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar also claimed 2 wickets each to bundle out South Africa at their lowest-ever total in a Test innings. It was also the lowest-ever Test innings total by any team against India in the Tests. 

India faced an unbelievable collapse from a comfortable position

In reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 55 runs, India were looking comfortable at one stage with a score of 153 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 33 overs. But then happened a drastic batting collapse with the visitors, courtesy of star Proteas pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Subsequently, India lost their 6 wickets without scoring any runs. 

In Test cricket’s 146-year-long history, it was the highest number of wickets a team lost without scoring a single run. South Africa’s pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger scalped 3 wickets each to bundle out India at the score of 153 runs in 34.5 overs, taking a lead of 98 runs in the first innings. South Africa started their batting in the second innings on day 1 only; at the time of stumps, they had lost 3 wickets at the score of 62 runs, trailing by 36 runs in the second innings, having Aiden Markram and David Bedingham there in the middle.

Here’s how fans reacted to the day 1 drama in 2nd Test between South Africa and India:

 

 

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