In a riveting display of Test cricket at Newlands Cricket Ground on Wednesday, fast-bowlers Mukesh Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah combined forces to secure three crucial wickets, giving India a slight advantage as South Africa ended the day at 62/3 in 17 overs, trailing the visitors by 36 runs.
The day witnessed an astonishing 23 wickets falling, with Mohammed Siraj leading the charge by taking a fiery, career-best 6-15 to dismiss South Africa for a mere 55 in the first innings. India initially seized control, reaching 153/4, but a sensational collapse saw them lose six wickets for zero runs, leaving them stranded at that score.
In South Africa's second innings, Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar provided a solid start, hitting six boundaries in 9.3 overs. However, Elgar's final innings in international cricket concluded when he nicked one from Mukesh Kumar to the first slip, departing for 12 off 28 balls. Shortly after, Tony de Zorzi fell to Mukesh for one, and Jasprit Bumrah had Tristan Stubbs caught behind for the second time in the day.
Markram's unbeaten 36 and David Bedingham's seven not out steered Proteas to stumps without further loss. With a fast-paced day one concluded, day two promises an evenly poised contest, with India holding a slight edge over South Africa.
In the middle of the second session, India, with a lead of 98 at 153/4, witnessed Virat Kohli showcasing his skills against Kagiso Rabada. However, the game's momentum shifted dramatically when Lungi Ngidi, conceding 30 runs from five overs, orchestrated a three-wicket maiden over, revitalizing the Cape Town crowd.
Ngidi's steep bounce claimed KL Rahul's wicket, forcing a glove edge on Ravindra Jadeja's attempted fend, and inducing Jasprit Bumrah to lob a catch to gully. Kohli fell victim to a catch at the outside edge, and Siraj was run-out, allowing Rabada to wrap up the innings by having Prasidh Krishna caught at slip.
Ngidi, Rabada, and Nandre Burger each secured three wickets on a pitch offering steep bounce and seam movement. India's dramatic collapse marked the first-ever instance of six wickets falling on the same score in a Test match, as 20 wickets tumbled within two and a half sessions on day one.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 55 in 23.2 overs (Kyle Verreynne 15; Mohammed Siraj 6-15) and 62/3 in 17 overs (Aiden Markram 36 not out; Mukesh Kumar 2-25) trail India 153 in 34.5 overs (Virat Kohli 46, Rohit Sharma 39; Lungi Ngidi 3-30, Kagiso Rabada 3-38) by 36 runs.
(With Agency Inputs)
