It was a bizarre Day 1 that saw the Proteas bowled out for 55 and India bowled out for 153 in the 2nd Test at Newlands.
As expected, the wicket was juicy for the seamers, but the India bowlers bowled with accuracy and consistency to get the maximum output from the strip.
It was a terrible start for the Proteas. Aiden Markram tried to defend off the back foot and nicked off early on and Dean Elgar chased a delivery and chopped the ball onto his stumps. SA were 8-2 after 5.3 overs, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj.
With the openers back in the dugout, it was up to the debutant Tristan Stubbs and homeboy Tony de Zorzi to do the hard work and build a partnership, particularly with only six batters in the XI.
Stubbs only managed 3 before losing his wicket and out walked local boy David Bedingham to a roar from the Newlands crowd.
De Zorzi was next to go for 2. SA were in big trouble at 15-4 after 9.2 overs.
Siraj continued his dominance avoiding Bedingham’s forward defence and edging to the slips for 12.
South Africa were in big trouble on 34-5 after 15.2 overs and he got Marco Jansen a short time later for a duck to bring up his five-for. SA were 34-6 after 15.5 overs.
Verreynne scored 15, chased a wide Siraj delivery, and was caught in the slips. South Africa completely collapsed at 45-7 after 17.5.
Keshav Maharaj hit Bumrah straight to mid-wicket and the despair continued, SA were 48-8.
Nandre Burger was next to edge to the slips after SA went past 50, SA 55-9 after 23 overs with Bumrah getting his second.
SA were all out for 55. Siraj finished with 6-15.
This was the lowest innings total post-isolation.
Before this match, the lowest total at home was 83 at Wanderers in 2016 against England.
South Africa bowled too full in their attempt to throttle India.
Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger did manage to take a wicket each, but this never stopped India from passing the 100-run mark with ease.
Burger took his second with the dismissal of Shubman Gill for 36, and India lost their third with 105 on the board and a lead of 50.
Burger was on fire again in his next over, finding the edge of Shreyas Iyer. India was now 110-4 as South Africa started to fight back into the match.
Virat Kohli was at his usual best and was crucial to getting South Africa past the 150-run mark, but Lungi Ngidi managed to remove KL Rahul to pip them back at 153-5. Next to go was Ravindra Jadeja two balls later, India was now 153-6 after 33.3 overs. Ngidi struck again another two balls later, this time Bumrah finding 3rd slip. India was now 153-7.
Rabada then produced a major shock. He took Kohli on 46, revving up the crowd to a deafening roar as India were 153-8.
What followed was a crazy runout as India lost their ninth. Crazy scenes at Newlands as all the fans were on their feet. Rabada then finished off India to take out Mukesh Kumar. India all out for 153 in 34.5 overs.
There was hope.
Burger finished with 3-42, Kagiso Rabada 3-38 and Ngidi 3-30.
South Africa’s second innings started just after 16:00. And throughout the last stretch of the day, there was a continuous buzz around the ground.
Markram took four balls to hit a beautiful cut off the back foot to bring up the first boundary to a loud standing ovation from the crowd.
Every run thereafter was cheered with enthusiasm.
Elgar in his final innings of his career only managed 12, but as he walked off the field he was embraced by the Indian players, Kohli leading the way with an emotional embrace.
De Zorzi scored 1 and then was caught by the keeper and SA were 41-2. Another wicket to the day’s tally.
Stubbs was then dismissed for 1. SA 45-3.
23 wickets fell on the day, the most in history post-isolation on Day 1 of a Test match.
The most wickets to fall in a Test match on Day 1 was 25 in 1902 at Lord’s between England and Australia.
South Africa ended the day on 62-3.
