SA vs IND, 2nd Test Highlights: South Africa 62/3, trails by 36 runs at Stumps on Day 1

A staggering opening day of the second Test here in Cape Town. A total of 23 wickets fell in just over 80 overs. South Africa was bundled out for 55, with Mohammed Siraj picking his career-best bowling figures of 6/15. India then lost six wickets without scoring a run in the space of 11 deliveries to be bundled out for 153, taking a lead of 98 runs. South Africa then came back to bat for the second time on the same day and lost three wickets with 36 runs still remaining to erase the deficit. A thrilling second day awaits us tomorrow. Until then, it will be goodnight from us. 

A single for Markram off the first ball of the over and 50 comes up for the host in 16.1 overs. Driven beautifully by Bedingham through extra-cover for a couple. He tucks one off his pads for one more. Mukesh oversteps and that will also be a no-ball. FOUR! Drifting down leg-side and Markram helps it to the boundary with a gentle flick to the fine-leg boundary. FOUR! Crisply driven by Markram through covers for consecutive boundaries. A bit of drama ahead of the final ball of the day. Kohli flips the bails at the striker’s end and then Rohit has a long chat with Mukesh. All this probably to eat away at Markram’s patience. But the batter seems relaxed. A dot ball to end the over and the day. That will be Stumps, Day 1. 

Bumrah again. OUT! Short of length on a tight line on off-stump and Stubbs is taken aback by the sharp bounce and gets an outside edge to the keeper. David Bedingham comes in next. FOUR! He starts off with a four as he drives a half-volley outside off through mid-off. Outside edge induced but it drops just short of the slip cordon and Bedingham breathes a sigh of relief. 

Tristan Stubbs c Rahul b Bumrah 1 (14b)

Mukesh starts off with three dot balls. Very loud and excited appeal appeal for lbw and not given by the on-field umpire. India goes for the review. The ball would have gone over the stumps, ball tracking confirms, and Stubbs survives. He is off the mark off the 12th ball after he pushes one through cover and hares for a single. 

Bumrah continues. Markram flicks one through midwicket for a couple of runs. Just the two runs from the over as Bumrah keeps it tight and Markram displays his strong defence. 

OUT! Mukesh strikes again and De Zorzi is walking. This was angling in on the stumps from around the stumps, De Zorzi wanted to defend it but the ball went off the outside edge and to Rahul with the gloves. Tristan Stubbs comes out to bat. He almost chops on off the fifth ball of the over. 

Tony de Zorzi c Rahul b Mukesh Kumar 1 (7b)

Bumrah is back into the attack. Markram’s outside edge beats the gully fielder and he runs a couple. 

Here is Mukesh. He beats Elgar outside off as the ball moves away off the seam a bit. OUT! Elgar pokes outside off next ball and edges a catch in the slips. He walks back to the hut for one last time for 12 off 28 balls even as the Indian players rush to congratulate him. Tony de Zorzi is the next man in. A wicket-maiden for Mukesh. 

Dean Elgar c Kohli b Mukesh Kumar 12 (28b 2x4)

Siraj will continue. FOUR! The runs are now coming thick and fast. Markram punches this off the back foot through cover with elegance and finds the rope. 

Mukesh again. Elgar tucks one off his toes for a single and it is a no-ball too. FOUR! Length ball outside off and Markram punches it through extra-cover for a boundary. FOUR! Elgar ends the over with his own marvellous punch through cover and finds the boundary. 

Siraj again. A single each for Elgar and Markram to start the over as they keep the scoreboard ticking. Elgar defends the ball on the off-side for another quick single. Markram gets an outside edge as he defends one outside off but the ball carries to the slip fielder on the bounce. 

Mukesh Kumar replaces Bumrah. Leg-before appeal first ball as he nips one back into Markram but it hit him quite high on the pad. Next one is a harmless delivery outside off and Markram leaves it alone. Markram defends this one to the point fielder. Another one nips in and stays low and Markram cannot get his bat down in time. India reviews this one. The ball is clipping leg-stump on umpire’s call and Markram will remain at the crease though India doesn’t lose the review. Markram leaves the following delivery outside off-stump. Another maiden over. 

Siraj will continue. A nasty bouncer and Elgar yanks his head out of the ball’s way in time. Rahul seems to have hurt his finger while collecting it behind the stumps. Another bouncer to end the over and Elgar ducks under it comfortably. Maiden over. 

Bumrah continues. Straighter line from the Indian pace. Markram defends the first few. Nips one back in and hits Markram on the back leg. Loud appeal from Bumrah, but India doesn’t review. Markram punches through covers to add a couple of runs. 

Siraj over the wicket to Elgar. Hits Elgar on the gloves with one that rises sharply. Siraj goes short again. But this time it is a tad wide and Elgar manages to guide it behind point for a four. 

Markram sneaks in a single off the first ball of the Bumrah over. Elgar gets off the mark with a tap to the off side. Back of the length from Bumrah and Markram with a controlled back foot punch. ANOTHER FOUR!

Siraj, who would have never imagined to be bowling again today, gets his first over of the innings. He cramps Elgar down for a streak of dot balls, gathering a maiden over. 

Bumrah with the first over of the South African second innings. Markram on strike. Full and wide from Bumrah and Markram unleashes a full-blooded cover drive. FOUR!!

Well that didn’t take too long. Prasidh edges the next one from Rabada to Markram at slip. From 153/4 to 153 all-out in 11 balls. 

Prasidh Krishna c Markram b Rabada 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Absolute chaos! Prasidh taps one to mid on. Siraj sets off without heeding to his partner’s call. Burger runs the ball to the non-striker’s ends. 

Mohammed Siraj run out (Burger) 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Rabada gets his man. Kohli can only edge one that stayed the line. Good low catch by Markram. 

Virat Kohli c Markram b Rabada 46 (59b 6x4 1x6)

Another bouncer from Ngidi and another wicket for South Africa. This time it is Bumrah. Hits him high on the bat and it is an easy catch for Jansen. 

Jasprit Bumrah c Jansen b Ngidi 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Once again a short ball from Ngidi and Jadeja is unable to get away from it. Hits him on the gloves and Jansen takes a good diving catch. 

Ravindra Jadeja c Jansen b Ngidi 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Short and away from the body from Ngidi. Rahul slashes at it and can only edge it to the keeper. 

KL Rahul c †Verreynne b Ngidi 8 (33b 1x4 0x6)

Elgar persists with Rabada. Length ball against Rahul. Keeps a tad low. Thick inside edge onto the pads. Rabada drops it short now and Rahul climbs on top of it with a pull shot. FOUR!!

Ngidi returns for South Africa. Starts by angling one past Kohli’s inside edge. Hits the Indian batter on the thigh pad. Kohli and Rahul keep the scoreboard ticking with some easy singles - four of them from the over. 

Rabada draws an edge from Kohli. Bounces just in front of the third slip, who manages to prevent a boundary. Short from Rabada now and it bounces way over the keeper and runs away for a four. 

Leg side from Jansen. Nicks off Rahul’s pads and two leg byes added to India’s tally. Short from Jansen and Rahul pulls it away for a single, to finally open his account. It took him 22 balls to do that. 

Rabada continues on his battle with Kohli. Taps one to deep backward to add a couple of runs. Width from Rabada and Kohli manages to guides it behind point. Stubbs makes a diving stop to prevent a boundary. 

Jansen around the wicket to Rahul now. Angling in from some serious height. Rahul is in his crease blunting them down with a straight bat. 

Rabada starts with one that rears off a good length. Gets a leading edge out of Kohli, but it lands safely. Short from Rabada next. This time Kohli was ready for it. Thumping pull shot. SIX!! Rabada brings the line back outside the off stump and Kohli leaves a few. Rabada now pitches one up and Kohli brings out a flowing cover drive. FOUR

Jansen around the wicket to Kohli. Wide of the off stump and Kohli flays at it. Not in control, but there is enough bat on it. Runs away for a four. Kohli nudges one to deep fine to add a single from the over. 

Rabada to begin the third session for South Africa. Kohli on strike for India. He kicks things off with a double with a dab to the leg side. 

IND 114/4 in 25 overs

Jansen again. The ball nips back a bit into Kohli from around the stumps and he lets the ball go. Lbw appeal as Kohli shuffles across a bit and misses the flick through midwicket. Umpire doesn’t like it but South Africa goes for the review after much deliberation. Lucky for Kohli as this is clipping leg-stump but on umpire’s call and Kohli will survive. Rahul is hit in the ribcage as he choses to leave a ball that he thinks will angle across him and go outside off-stump, instead it nips back in a bit to ruffle him up a bit. Maiden over and that will be Tea! 

Burger to Shreyas. He defends the first ball of the over solidly. OUT! Shreyas is gone for a two-ball duck. He wants to have a feel of this delivery that angles across him but he can only get an outside edge to the keeper. KL Rahul is in next. 

Jansen replaces Ngidi. FOUR! An audacious shot by Kohli. It is short and wide, Kohli cuts this over the point fielder and gets a cracking boundary. 

FOUR! Gill greets Burger’s new over with a disdainful pull over midwicket and fetches the boundary. India’s lead now moves to 50. Loud appeal for lbw by Burger but the umpire doesn’t give it. This moves across Gill but pitched outside leg-stump and that’s a good decision not to review. OUT! Gill is gone next ball though. He gets an outside edge as he prods this ball that angles across him and a brilliant catch by Jansen at gully.

Shubman Gill c Jansen b Burger 36 (55b 5x4)

Ngidi continues. Half-volley on middle and leg-stump and Gill clips it off his toes for a couple of runs through square-leg. A couple more for Gill as there is a misfield and 100 comes up for India in 19.5 overs. A single for Kohli to end the over. 

Kohli is beaten by Burger, who pitches the ball on a good length before it takes off and beats Kohli’s prod outside off-stump. Maiden over amidst what looks like some contest that is going on between Burger and Kohli. 

Ngidi replaces Jansen in the bowling attack. Driven through cover by Gill for a couple. Tight over, just two from it. 

Burger continues. Kohli swivels and pulls this to deep square-leg for a couple of runs. Just two more singles from the other. 

Jansen comes again. Gill takes a single first ball of the over with a flick through square-leg. FOUR! Kohli strides into another glorious drive through cover for his third consecutive boundary. He then clips one behind square for a single. Gill gets an outside edge to the wide gully fielder but the ball doesn’t carry. FOUR! Gill brings out his trademark shot-arm jab, though this is hit through square-leg and to the boundary. 

Burger again. Gill takes a single first ball as he swats this to cover. OUT! Rohit is gone. The ball spat up a bit from a good length and took Rohit’s outside edge before flying into the hands of the slip cordon. Huge wicket for the Proteas! Virat Kohli comes in and solidly defends back to bowler. FOUR! Kohli goes for an expansive drive wide outside off, the ball flies off the outside edge and through the slips for a boundary. FOUR! Exquisitely driven down the ground by Kohli for another boundary. 

Jansen continues from around the stumps to Rohit. Jansen keeps it on the fuller side and attacks the stumps. Rohit defends solidly, getting behind the line of the ball. Angling in from a good length and Rohit leaves as the ball goes over the stumps. Maiden over. 

Burger replaces Rabada. FOUR! Loose delivery, full and wide outside off and Gill leans into the drive through cover to fetch another boundary. Beaten! A jaffa this one! Pitching on middle and off, Gill misses and the ball whizzes past his outside edge and goes past off-stump. Gill leaves well in the channel. Five dots in a row. 

Jansen continues. Gill slashes hard as the ball angles across him but it goes straight to the fielder at point. Gill gets a bottom edge on the cut and the ball rolls to the slip cordon. FOUR! Beautiful cover-drive by Gill as the batter gets slightly low to play this shot. Jansen comes around the stumps. Gill pushes the ball on the off-side and hares for a single. That’s the 50-run partnership for Rohit and Gill off just 60 balls. 

Huge appeal for lbw and given and Rabada has Rohit again! But Rohit has reviewed this and, as it turns out, the ball is missing leg-stump. Great review and Rohit survives. Rohit steals a leg-bye before Gill goes on the front-foot to flick through midwicket and gets three runs. 

Over the wicket from Jansen against Rohit. On the good length, but doesn’t bounces as much as Rohit expects. Hits him on the back pad. The onfield umpire gives it not out. South Africa burns a review on it. The ball tracker projects the ball to have missed the stumps. Short from Jansen now. It is way too short, as the ball flies over the keeper for a bye four. India has the lead now. 

Fifth over of the opening spell from Rabada. Couple of well-directed bouncers against Rohit. The Indian skipper is unwilling to take the short balls one as he ducks under them. Just a single from the over. 

Burger over the wicket. Rohit taps a rising one down to start the over. Burger goes full next ball and it is easily creamed away by Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Another fuller ball from Burger and another cover drive from Rohit. Only three runs this time and fifty up for India. 

Rabada up against Gill now. Nagging line from Rabada to start with. Nothing for Gill to work with. India looking to be extra cautious against Rabada. 

Full from Burger to start with. Too easy for Rohit. Driven straight for a four. Burger goes short and Rohit saw that coming quite early. Pulled away for a four. Once again, an overpitched delivery from Burger. Rohit goes after it. Not the best timing. But it is a four down the ground. 

On the pads from Rabada. Two leg byes added to the Indian total. Length ball from Rabada and it bounces sharply. Strikes Rohit on the arm. Rohit picks one from around the middle and guides it to mid wicket for three runs. 

Ngidi with his second over. Gill on strike. The line is straight and on the stumps from Ngidi. Not much sideways movement. Gill deals with it ably. Too straight from Ngidi on this occasion. Clipped away by Gill. Burger can’t prevent a boundary in the deep. 

Rabada draws first blood. Back of a length and it bounces well enough. Jaiswal can only under edge it to the stumps. South Africa needs more of these. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal b Rabada 0 (7b 0x4 0x6)

IND 20/1 in 3 overs

Ngidi is the other new-ball operator for South Africa. Rohit Sharma on strike now. Over the wicket from Ngidi. Not much bounce, but manages to beat Rohit’s outside edge. On the pads from Ngidi and it is all too easy for Rohit. Flicked away for a four. Full now from Ngidi and Rohit drives it on the up for another four. Again on the pads from Ngidi and again flicked away. FOUR MORE!

Jaiswal and Rohit are out in the middle. Rabada with the first over. Jaiswal on strike. Rabada with a couple of wide ones. The Indian opener leaves them watchfully. Leg sideish from Rabada. Clips off Jaiswal’s pads and runs away for a four. 

Mukesh nabs Rabada with an outswinger. Good catch by Shreyas and that is the end of South Africa’s first innings. An incredible session of play. 

SA 55 all-out in 23.2 overs!

Bumrah gets another crack. Rabada takes a single off the first ball, leaving Burger to deal with Bumrah for the rest of the over. Good length from Bumrah and Burger guides it behind point for a four. Bumrah goes full and wide and Burger throws his bat at it. Edged and caught by Jaiswal, again, in the slip cordon. 

Nandre Burger c Jaiswal b Bumrah 4 (11b 1x4 0x6)

Mukesh Kumar around the wicket against Burger. On the sixth stump line for the first few ball and Burger sticks to leaving it. Now, Mukesh angles one in with an inswinger. Strikes Burger on the pads. Muted appeals from the Indian fielders. Another maiden for Mukesh. 

Bumrah returns. Around the wicket. Rabada welcomes him with a straight drive. Couple of runs there. But Bumrah pulls his length back, forcing a couple of play and misses from Rabada. 

And finally Siraj’s spell comes to an end. He is replaced by Mukesh Kumar, who starts with a jaffa. Full and quick. Swings away from Maharaj, who attempts a half-hearted drive. MISS! Inswingers from there on and Maharaj is better positioned to deal with those. Mukesh then goes for a short and Maharaj can only get a top edge on it. Easy catch for Bumrah. 

Keshav Maharaj c Bumrah b Mukesh Kumar 3 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Another over for Prasidh. Keshav Maharaj on strike. Short ball and Maharaj swings at it wildly. Misses it completely. On the pads and it is clipped away for a single by Maharaj. 

Prasidh goes length and has the beating of the left-handed Rabada. 

Ninth over on the trot for Siraj. Starts by inducing an edge out of Verreynne. Goes between third slip and gully. Two runs taken. On the pads from Siraj, after a couple of dot balls. Easy picking for Verreynne. FOUR!!

But Siraj is not to be denied. Full and wide and Verreynne slashes at it. Edged and gobbled up by Gill at second slip. 

Kyle Verreynne c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 15 (30b 1x4 0x6)

SA 45/7 in 18 overs

Prasidh with his second. Starts with a short ball. Verreynne gets on top of it. But can’t get it past the fielder at gully. Dot ball. Verreynne pushes one to covers to bring Maharaj on strike. Full from Prasidh and Maharaj gets off the mark with a straight drive. Three runs taken there. 

Siraj gets his well-deserved fifer. Another one moving away and the new batter Marco Jansen can only nick it to the keeper. South Africa has lost its sixth wicket. 

SA 34/6 in 16 overs

Another over for Siraj. Starts with an outswinger. It bounces way more than Bedingham predicts. Clips off his gloves. Easy catch for Jaiswal at third slip. South Africa in deep trouble now. 

David Bedingham c Jaiswal b Mohammed Siraj 12 (17b 2x4 0x6)

A single for Bedingham with a punch off the backfoot through cover as Prasidh continues. Beaten! Fuller, outside off and Verreynne goes for a booming drive and completely misses the ball. Five dots in a row to end the over. 

Siraj continues from the other end. LBW appeal and given this time! Verreynne goes upstairs for the review. Good review as the ball is missing leg-stump and Verreynne survives. Extra bounce for Siraj as he pitches it back-of-a-length outside off and Verreynne is beaten as he plays away from body. Driven on the up by Verreynne through cover for three runs. Tucked off the pads by Bedingham for a single to end the over. 

Prasidh Krishna replaces Bumrah as India opts for the first bowling change. Verreynne pulls the last ball of the over for three runs as the ball plugs into the outfield and doesn’t reach the boundary. Drinks Break! 

Sixth over for Siraj. A single each for Verreynne and Bedingham as Siraj goes full and straight. A desperate appeal for lbw as Verreynne seems to have shuffled across his stumps before missing one that was sliding down leg-side. Rahul advises not to review this though. 

One more for Bumrah. He gets the ball to jag back into the right-hander off the pitch and hit Bedingham high on the thigh. FOUR! First boundary off the bat as Bedingham pushes one through mid-off for four runs. FOUR! Sliding down leg-side and Bedingham flicks it square of the wicket for another boundary. 

Another over for Siraj. OUT! De Zorzi is strangled down leg-side and third wicket for Siraj. Kyle Verreynne is the new batter. He defends one back to the bowler and then is beaten as he pokes his bat out in the channel outside off-stump. Maiden wicket for Siraj. 

Bumrah again. Loud appeal for leg-before as Bumrah angles the ball in but it hits him quite high on the front pad. Not reviewed. OUT! That doesn’t matter because Stubbs is gone next ball. Back-of-a-length delivery and Stubbs gets an inside edge as he looks to defend it; the ball goes off the thigh pad and into the hands of Rohit Sharma at short-leg. Huge appeal first ball for leg-before as Bedingham comes in and misses a full toss. India doesn’t review and replay later shows there was an inside edge. Edged next ball and falls short of the slip cordon. FOUR-BYES! This is angling away down leg-side and beats Rahul to run away to the boundary. The first of the day. 

Here comes Siraj again. He keeps it back-of-a-length to Stubbs. Now darts one in full and straight on the stumps and Stubbs flicks it to square-leg for a dot ball. Full and straight and defended solidly by Stubbs back to the bowler. Looks like Stubbs wants to change his bat. Outside edge but the ball goes along the ground and through backward point and gully to give Stubbs a single. 

Bumrah to continue. Stubbs takes a quick single after pushing the ball through the off-side. Bumrah comes around the wicket to de Zorzi. Five dots in a row as Bumrah gives de Zorzi little room to work with and then ends the over with a bouncer. 

Siraj continues to try and cramp Elgar on leg-side. OUT! Angling across outside off but Elgar looks to punch it through cover but ends up chopping it onto his stumps. Second wicket for Siraj and India has put SA in early trouble. Debutant Tristan Stubbs will now have his task cut out as he comes out to bat. He is off the mark with a single at cover-point. 

Bumrah starts the over with another accurate yorker and Elgar jams it out. Full and this is flicked through square by Elgar for a single. On middle and on a length, angling away slightly and de Zorzi leaves. De Zorzi is off the mark with a couple of Bumrah darts in a full toss. Bumrah now comes around the stumps and there’s an lbw appeal first ball from this angle but the umpire doesn’t budge. 

Siraj again. OUT! Siraj draws Markram forward and induces an outside edge that is expertly caught in the slips by Jaiswal. Tony de Zorzi comes in next. Siraj gets one to jag back in sharply and bounce a little bit extra as de Zorzi decides to leave this one that seems to be angling away. Huge appeal for caught-behind and the Indians feel they have de Zorzi strangled down leg but the umpire is unmoved. India doesn’t review. 

Aiden Markram c Jaiswal b Siraj 2 (10b)

Bumrah continues. Angling across from back-of-a-length and Elgar shoulders arms. Good length this time and this angles further across outside off-stump and Elgar is happy to let it go again. Searing yorker and Elgar does well to dig it out. Full and punched through cover by Elgar for a couple. Short and Elgar wants to pull it but doesn’t connect too well. Left alone outside off by Elgar again to end the over. 

Siraj from the other end. Back-of-a-length ball outside leg-stump and Elgar shuffles across and looks to flick it behind. Huge appeal by Rahul for caught behind but Siraj isn’t interested. A couple of dot balls later, Elgar gets a leading edge trying to guide a shortish delivery on leg-side. The ball loops up high in the air and falls safely over the midwicket fielder. Just one run from the over. 

Bumrah with the ball. Markram on strike. Length ball on middle and defended by Markram. He is off the second ball with a flick through square-leg for a couple of runs. Fuller, swinging away a bit and Markram fends it on off-side. Beaten! Slight movement away again and this time the ball whizzes past Markram’s outside edge. Beaten again with a similar delivery as Markram takes a big stride forward to defend. He leaves the last ball of the over. 

Would’ve batted first as well. Looks a good pitch. We understand the challenge of batting first on that pitch, but nevertheless, there will be enough in the pitch for the seamers, so hopefully we’ll cash in on it. Important to forget what’s happened in the past. We understand the importance of getting runs on the board, and getting 20 wickets. Didn’t happen in the first game but we’re upbeat about what we can achieve here. Two changes. Jadeja comes back for Ashwin. Shardul misses out, Mukesh Kumar replaces him.

South Africa: DeanElgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

India: Rohit, Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli, Iyer, Rahul, Jadeja, Bumrah, Siraj, Prasidh, Mukesh

Elgar wins the toss and elects to bat first. 

Dean Elgar is concerned about South Africa’s Test cricket. It is virtually a South Africa-A side that will be touring New Zealand for a two-Test series because several top players are contracted to appear in the SA20.

“The situation we have been put in is not ideal,” Elgar said on the eve of South Africa’s second Test against India. “Irrespective of what has happened behind the scenes, there is still a lot of hunger for Test cricket from the guys who are playing. It is an opportunity for the players going to New Zealand to put in performances and to eventually become regular members of the squad.”

The second Test between South Africa and India will be telecast on the Star Sports network. The match can also be live streamed via the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. 

Table Mountain looks majestically down on Cape Town.

The flat-topped mountain lends a stunning backdrop to this gorgeous city, caressed by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, on the West Coast of South Africa. On the foothills of the mountain lies the Newlands Cricket Ground, one of the world’s most beautiful sporting venues.

Even as the Indian and South African cricketers practised under the blazing sun on Tuesday, they may well have paused for a moment to take in the beauty of the ground, the surroundings. Quite a number of people had gathered at the venue, including a trio of Bangladeshi immigrants, one of whom swears only by Virender Sehwag, but he would do with Rohit Sharma for the time being.