How Mohammed Siraj Became a Nightmare for South Africa: Watch All 6 Wickets

Mohammed Siraj started the new year with a bang as he claimed a six-wicket haul against South Africa in the second Test at Newlands, Cape Town. The premier pacer ran riot with the new ball and dismantled the Proteas batting line-up on his own.

It was one of the best spells by an Indian pacer in overseas conditions as South African batters looked clueless during his supreme spell.

Siraj started the carnage with the fourth over where he dismissed Aiden Markram for 2. The Indian paceman managed to force an edge from Markram’s willow as Yashasvi Jaiswal took a fine catch at slip. It was no stopping for Siraj after that. He kept taking wickets at regular intervals to dismantle the Proteas batting line-up.

IND vs SA 2nd Test Day 1 Live Score

Stand-in skipper Dean Elgar, who is playing his final Test match, became Siraj’s second victim for 4.

The Hyderabad pacer kept taking wickets at regular intervals as South Africa failed to recover and were bundled out for just 55 – any team’s lowest-ever total against India.

Kyle Verreynne was the last victim of Siraj’s wrath as the Proteas wicketkeeper edged the ball to Shubman Gill.

Siraj’s 6/15 turned out to be the best bowling figures by an Indian pacer in Cape Town. Meanwhile, it is their best by an Indian on the Proteas soil after Shardul Thakur 7/61 and 7/120.

South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss in his farewell Test match and elected to bat against India in the second and final Test.

India have made two changes from the playing eleven they fielded in the first Test, where they lost by an innings and 32 runs at SuperSport Park in Centurion inside three days. Left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja replaces veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, while pacer Mukesh Kumar comes in for seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

Jadeja had not played the first Test due to an upper back spasm and his return gives India more of batting depth, apart from left-arm spin bowling to complement the right-arm fast-bowling quarter. India needs to win the Cape Town Test to avoid a 2-0 series sweep.

Captain Rohit Sharma said he would have batted first as well if he had won the toss. “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.”