South Africa were bowled out for just 55 on the opening day of the second Test, just before lunch in the first session of play. Mohammed Siraj caused a collapse in the South Africa batting line-up by taking 6/15, his first six-fer in Test cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar took two wickets each as South Africa were bowled out for their lowest total since their readmission to international cricket since 1932. It is South Africa’s lowest total in Test cricket since 1932 and their readmission, and their worst ever. registered team against India.
62 by New Zealand in 2021 and 79 posted by South Africa itself in 2015 are the other two lowest totals against India in Test matches. Before this, South Africa’s five lowest totals were 30, 30, 35, 36 and 43, but these dated back to the late 19th or early 20th century.
South Africa were eliminated by 55 points against India, their lowest ever against the Men in Blue
This is also the third lowest total in Test matches in Cape Town. The lowest is New Zealand (45) in 2013 and the second lowest is Zimbabwe (54) in 2005. As many as nine batsmen were dismissed or scored single-digit scores and Marco Jansen fell into the trap. South African captain Dean Elgar in the first innings of his last Test match scored just 4. Kyle Verreynne top-scored for the Proteas with 15 off 30 balls.
Mohammed Siraj, who took fifes against Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup final and 2023 ODI World Cup against Sri Lanka, inflicted a six-fer on the South Africa batting line-up. This was his first six-fer in Test cricket. Elgar was the key wicket that fell in South Africa’s innings in the sixth over. His wicket opened the floodgates for India.
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Interestingly, Cape Town has witnessed seven times where teams have been bowled out for 55 or less in Test cricket. Lord’s is the next place where six times teams have been fired by 55 or less.
In terms of records, this was also the 11th shortest full innings in Test cricket as India took a total of 23.1 overs to bowl out South Africa. India is yet to win a Test series on South African soil. They lost the first Test and thus lost another chance to win a Test series in South Africa.
Ahead of the second Test, Elgar said a Test series win against India is akin to a World Cup win for him.
“I only play to win. I don’t care about statistics. I care about victories. I care about series victories. Those are the best memories you will ever be able to share with your team, everyone who plays an influential role in the background. The test series wins: that is not overcome. Maybe a World Cup win is up there. I’ve never had that opportunity but this is my World Cup. This is my field where I want to win” said Elgar on the eve of his final test.
He also said that he feels very proud to lead his team in their final test match in the absence of Temba bavuma who was ruled out of the second test due to injury. It was under his leadership that South Africa won 2-1 against India in 2021. He now has another chance to win another Test series against India.
“I don’t think you get greater praise or greater credit than being asked to be captain. I did it in the past for a year and a half or whatever and it has been the best learning experience for me as an individual, not only from a cricket point of view but also off the field. “I give my 100% whether playing or being captain and I am going to have that mentality going into this game.” Elgar said.
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