NE Watch Desk
Day 1 of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town proved golden in the Indian cricket history as the Men In Blue, owing to Mohammed Siraj’s fiery pace bowling, dismissed the rival for just 55 inside one session.
Siraj did his career-best 6 for 15 in a straight spell of nine overs as the South African batters went back to pavilion one after one. The rivals failed to face inward and outward movement and the disconcerting bounce that the Indian cricketer extracted off the surface.
South Africa getting dismissed at only 55 is lowest total in Test cricket since 1991, when the team had re-admission into international cricket. Besides, it’s the lowest all out score by a team in a Test innings against Bharat.
The African nation’s score is the first time since 1932, when Team India played its maiden Test and dismissed competitor below 60 in Tests. Previously, New Zealand scored lowest score of 62 in Mumbai in 2021.
Left-arm spinner Maninder Singh is the only Indian in country’s 92 year Test history to take five wickets before lunch other than Siraj.
Maninder Singh achieved the feat against Pakistan in Karnataka’s Bengaluru back in 1986-1987.
Siraj gave tough time to the Proteas with his batting displaying master class pace, swing and seam movement bundling the rivals in just 23.2 overs humid morning of Wednesday.
Jasprit Bumrah (2/25 in 8 overs) continued the pressure while Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made Dean Elgar’s life miserable in his farewell Test.
Mukesh Kumar and Yashasvi Jaiswal did their best, contributing to achieve this feat.
South Africa faced one of its most embarrassing mornings since 1991 and only two batters – David Bedingham (12) and Kyle Verreynne (15) – hit the double digits.
