IND vs SA, 2nd Test: Mohammed Siraj’s 6-fer Folds South Africa to Their Lowest Total Since Readmission in 1991

Mohammed Siraj led the way with a six-wicket haul as India restricted South Africa to just 55 in the first innings of the second Test match at Newlands Cape Town. The hosts failed to put up any challenge with the bat and were bundled out inside the first session of the game. Siraj ran riot with the new ball as the Proteas batters looked clueless against his swinging deliveries.

Siraj exploited the conditions to his fullest and produced one of the best spells by an Indian paceman on the Proteas’ solid with the figures of 6/15.

South Africa were all out inside 24 overs as Ravindra Jadeja didn’t even get the chance to roll his arms over.

Apart from Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar claimed two wickets each. The Indian fielders were also very attentive as they didn’t drop any catches and complemented the pacers well.

Siraj’s 6/15 was the third-best bowling figures by an Indian on Proteas soil as he joined an elite of players taking 6 wickets or more in an innings against South Africa at their own den.

Best bowling figures for India in South Africa

7/61 – Shardul Thakur, Johannesburg, 2022

7/120 – Harbhajan Singh, Cape Town, 2011

6/15 – Mohammed Siraj, Cape Town, 2024

6/53 – Anil Kumble, Johannesburg, 1992

6/76 – Javagal Srinath, Gqeberha, 2001

6/138 – Ravindra Jadeja Durban, 2013

Meanwhile, it was the fourth least expensive five-wicket haul by an Indian in Test cricket.

Least expensive Test five-fors for India (by runs conceded)

5/7 – Jasprit Bumrah vs West Indies, North Sound, 2019

6/12 – Venkatapathy Raju vs Sri Lanka, Chandigarh, 1990

5/13 – Harbhajan Singh vs West Indies, Kingston, 2006

6/15 – Mohammed Siraj vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2024

5/18 – Subhash Gupte vs Pakistan, Dhaka, 1955

It was an embarrassing start to the new year for South Africa as they registered their lowest score in Test cricket since their return to international cricket. Only two of their batters – David Bedingham (12) and Kyle Verreynne (15) were able to register the double-digit scores for them.

Lowest all-out totals for South Africa since their readmission

55 vs India, Cape Town, 2024

73 vs Sri Lanka, Galle, 2018

79 vs India, Nagpur, 2015

83 vs England, Johannesburg, 2016

84 vs India, Johannesburg, 2006

Dean Elgar, playing his final Test match, won the toss and elected to bat first under bright skies. But it all went downhill quickly for South Africa from there onwards. Siraj’s devastating spell began when Aiden Markram nicked a good length delivery to diving third slip. The Indian pacer didn’t stop after that and dismantled the Proteas line-up with assistance from Bumrah and Mukesh from the other end.

Lowest all-out totals vs India in Tests

55 – South Africa, Cape Town, 2024

62 – New Zealand, Mumbai WS, 2021

79 – South Africa, Nagpur, 2015

81 – England, Ahmedabad, 2021

82 – Sri Lanka, Chandigarh, 1990