South Africa's Nandre Berger (2nd L) takes a shot during the opening day of the 2nd cricket Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on January 3, 2024.
South Africa's Nandre Berger (2L) takes the stand during the first day of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on January 3, 2024. AFP
Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj caused an extraordinary knock in South Africa The opening day of the second Test at Newlands on Wednesday collapsed as the hosts were bowled out for 55 before lunch.
Siraj scored a career-best six runs on six for 15 and bowled an unchanged nine overs as South Africa's decision to bat first backfired spectacularly.
This was South Africa's lowest points total since 1931/32 when they played Australia in Melbourne and lost by 36 and 45 points.
South Africa's stand-in captain Dean Elgar played the final Test and stressed the need for his team to get off to a good start, holding a 1-0 lead in their second consecutive match.
However, it was India who controlled the morning's play with a pitch that had bounce and seam movement.
Siraj made good use of the conditions but none of the batsmen seemed comfortable against him.
It was the beginning of South Africa's collapse when he caught Aiden Markram at second slip in the second over.
He bowled Elgar for his four in the next over.
Jasprit Bumrah gets a new cap, Tristan Stubbs was caught three times at short leg, then Siraj took the next four wickets.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma's decision to keep Siraj in the match paid off as the fast bowler took the wickets of David Bedingham (12) and Marco Jansen (0) in eight overs.
Top scorer Kyle Bellin (15) became Siraj's sixth victim in the ninth over.