New Delhi: A remarkable procession of batsmen continued throughout the opening day of the second Test match at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.
As many as 23 wickets tumbled and 270 runs were scored in 75 overs of exciting cricket. And at the end of the day, South Africa needed 36 more runs to erase the first-innings deficit with 7 wickets in hand.
It was the second-most wickets that had fallen on the first day of a Test match.
Way back in 1902, 25 wickets fell on Day 1 of an England versus Australia Test.
Having bowled out South Africa for an unbelievably low total of 55 in the morning session itself, Team India looked poised for a huge first-innings lead at 110/3.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul guided the team to 153/4. Then the screws came off all too suddenly.
In a collapse which defies description and was totally unprecedented, Team India were all out for153 – not a run was added as Rahul (8), Ravindra Jadeja (0), Jasprit Bumrah (0), Virat Kohli (46), Mohammed Siraj (0) and Prasidh Krishna (0) all got dismissed.
India thus set an unwanted record – the first time in a Test match that six wickets had fallen on the same score!
Kohli top-scored with 46, Rohit Sharma made 39 and Shubman Gill 36, while 6 batters could not open their account.
After a brilliant comeback via their bowlers, South Africa batted better a seocnd time around to reach 62/3 at stumps.
India still have their nose slightly in front, but if South Africa can manage to take a lead of around 150, Rohit’s men could face the music on a bouncy pitch which is offering movement to the seamers.
Brief scores on Day 1, 2nd Test
South Africa 1st innings — 55 all out in 23.2 overs (Md Siraj 6/15, Mukesh Kumar 2/0, Jasprit Bumrah 2/25).
India 1st innings — 153 all out in 34.5 overs (Virat Kohli 46, Rohit Sharma 39, Shubman Gill 36; Lungi Ngidi 3/30, Kagiso Rabada 3/38, Nandre Burger 3/42).
South Africa 2nd innings — 62/3 in 17 overs (Aiden Markram 36*; Mukesh 2/25).
