A staggering 23 wickets fell on the first day of the second Test between South Africa and India in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The most remarkable part of the opening day came just before Tea, when India lost their final six wickets in 11 balls without scoring a single run. It's just the sixth time in Test cricket's 147-year history that 23 or more wickets have fallen during a single day's play.
"My goodness," said former India coach and player Ravi Shastri on commentary before delivering an iconic line. "Yes, 153-4 (to) 153 all out. If someone went around the corner for a dump and has come back, India have been bowled out for 153."
The wickets started tumbling after just 20 deliveries of the Newlands Test. India quick Mohammed Siraj had Aiden Markram caught in the slips to take the first of his six wickets, conceding just 15 runs in the process. From there, the visitors never looked back.
Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, the leader of India's attack, offered relentless pressure by sharing 17 of India's 23.2 overs. Bumrah picked up two wickets for his efforts, while seamer Mukesh Kumar also bagged a couple of scalps. It was just the latter's second Test nod.
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Only two South Africans, David Bedingham (12) and Kyle Verreynne (15), reached double figures on their way to a dreadful total of 55. It was the fourth lowest Test score ever recorded at Newlands and South Africa's worst innings in the format since February 1932.
Kagiso Rabada responded by dismissing India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck, but the visitors continued to dominate after that. They stormed to 105-2 to hint at a massive first innings total, just days South Africa recorded an innings victory at Centurion.
Mohammed Siraj dismissed Dean Elgar in the South Africa captain's final Test (Getty Images)What did you make of the first day of the second Test between South Africa and India? Let us know in the comments below!
But the game took a dramatic turn when India reached 153-4. The tourists lost six wickets for no runs to boast a first innings lead of just 98 runs. Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger all took three wickets each to reignite the Test, while Siraj was comically run out.
South Africa's second innings was Dean Elgar's last in Test cricket, as the legendary opener called time on his international career. Elgar's final knock started well, as the hosts reached 37 without loss, but Kumar's return to the attack led to more dismissals.
Elgar was the first South African to depart for 12 before Kumar had Tony de Zorzi caught behind for a single run and Bumrah dismissed Tristan Stubbs in the same manner for the same score. The hosts were relieved to reach stumps on 62-3, still 36 runs behind.
It's the first time 23 or more wickets have fallen on a single day's play since the clash between India and Afghanistan in Bangalore in 2018. The most wickets to fall in a day was in July 1888, when 27 were taken during the clash between England and Australia at Lord's.
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