South Africa v India: SA bowled out for just 55 runs in second Test ...

3 Jan 2024
South Africa vs India

South Africa put up their worst batting tally in 92 years as they were bowled out for 55 by a brilliant India attack, before the Men in Blue had their own collapse with the bat.

The Proteas were sensationally skittled on the opening day of the second test at Newlands in Cape Town as Mohammed Siraj took six wickets from nine overs, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar took two apiece as the home defence was shattered.

Kyle Verreynne's 15 was the highest that any of the South African batsmen could record on a jumpy wicket, as Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar, the latter captaining the Proteas for the final time before his pending retirement, were dismissed for just eight runs between them.

Siraj continued his assault as Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham also fell to his onslaught, with Bedingham's 12 the second-highest score of any of the home batters.

Marco Jansen and Verreynne were the last of Siraj's captures, with five of his six wickets coming from excellent catches by wicket-keeper KL Rahul or good takes in the slips.

The 55 put up by South Africa is the lowest they have registered in Test cricket since 1932, when Australia skittled them for 45, equating to the eight-lowest tally in history.

New Zealand hold the infamous honour of lowest Test batting score, posting a measly 26 against England in 1955.

However, India could not have fared worse with the bat after initially looking in control at 153-4.

Lungi Ngdidi took three wickets which kickstarted a remarkable India collapse, losing their last six wickets for no runs off 11 balls.

KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah were all dismissed in quick fashion. Virat Kohli scored 46 before he was caught out at second slip by Kagiso Rabada. In the next over, Siraj was run out and Prasidh Kumar was caught at second slip. Six batters were out for a duck which was the first time in Test history that a team has lost six wickets without scoring a single run.

At the start of the second innings, South Africa produced 62-3, trailing by 36, before stumps on a remarkable day 1.

Pakistan set 313 total after late surge

Elsewhere, Australia will chase a 313 total from Pakistan after the first day of their Test encounter in Sydney.

The visiting side were spurred on by those lower down the order - Muhammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal - who contributed 88 and 82 respectively to set a steady score.

Openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique were both dismissed for ducks as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood began to bare their teeth, but Rizwan and Jamal brought a calmness to the crease that had been lacking in the earlier exchanges of the innings.

Pat Cummins was the pick of the Aussie bowlers as he took five wickets, while Nathan Lyon, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head all had a go with the ball in hand.

Play was stopped just one over into the Australian innings, and their overnight total is fully courtesy of David Warner, whose six runs, including one four, tees them up for their chase.

The test will be Warner's last for Australia, having confirmed this series will mark his retirement from the format, as well as ODIs.

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