Team India and South Africa battled it out in Cape Town in the second and final Test of the 2-match series which was an intense affair right through ball one of the contest. After electing to bat first, South Africa were ripped apart by Mohammed Siraj’s six-wicket haul in the first session of Day 1. Later on, Proteas pacer Nandre Burger showed his aggression against the likes of Virat Kohli trying to get him out when India were batting.
It all happened during the 15th over of the India innings when Kohli played a defensive stroke which went straight to Burger and the pacer threatened to throw the ball back at the stumps. However, Kohli didn’t even blink an eye and was ice-cold at the moment writing it off with a smile towards the pacer. (WATCH: Virat Kohli Folds Hands, Does Heartwarming Gesture When ‘Ram Siya Ram’ Song Is Played At Newlands During IND vs SA 2nd Test At Entry Of Keshav Maharaj)
Watch the video here:
Virat Kohli & Burger’s Face Off
Commentary is enough to get why Virat is #burger #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/uoCMWf0Kzp
Gunaji (@gunaji_p) January 3, 2024
No burger , not to him
Don’t mess with Kohli .. if he takes serious your carrier was finish
#ViratKohli #virat #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/RJzGexCnWJ
Devote of prabhas (@Rapetichandras2) January 3, 2024
Coming the the first day of the Test, After an action-packed day one of the second Test between India and South Africa which saw 23 wickets falling, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra said that the only way India loses the match is if Proteas gets a 150-run lead atleast.
Aiden Markram and David Bedingham took South Africa to 62/3 at Stumps on dramatic day one of the second Test match in Cape Town on Wednesday. Chopra said that Team India is still ahead in the game and the match will be over on the second day itself.
“We have again taken three wickets (in the second innings). We are still well ahead in the game. The match will be over on the second day. Why do you keep five-day Test matches? The first match lasted three days and the second match will last two days,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“I hope that does not happen, but the only chance for India to lose is if South Africa get a 150-run lead. Other than that, I feel we are in the driver’s seat. So the expectation is that when this match ends, the series would be tied at 1-1 and we would have registered our first-ever win in a Cape Town Test,” he added.
Aakash lauded Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj for his six-wicket haul in the first innings, saying that the best of Siraj is “magical”. (6/15 Vs South Africa To 6/21 Vs Sri Lanka In Asia Cup 2023 Final: Best Spells Of Mohammed Siraj For Team India – In Pics)
“You have to credit the Indian bowling for the way they bowled, especially Mohammed Siraj. This is what makes Siraj extremely special. The best of Miyan Magic is actually magical,” said Chopra.
“When he bowled against Sri Lanka – six wickets, and when he bowled here – six wickets. If you see his action, he falls slightly towards the left and it seems the ball would come in but the ball pitches and goes away. The ball also shapes away a little in the air. So there he kept picking up wickets,” he added.
Coming to the match, South Africa elected to bat first and was bundled out for just 55 in 23.2 overs, with Kyle Verreynne (15) and David Bedingham (12) being the sole players to touch double digits.
Mohammed Siraj’s fiery spell of 6/15 destroyed Proteas’ top and middle order, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) and Mukesh Kumar (0/2) also took wickets.
In their first innings, India was 153/4 at one point, with solid scores coming from Virat Kohli (46 in 59 balls, with six fours and a six), Rohit Sharma (39 in 50 balls, with seven fours) and Shubman Gill (36 in 55 balls, with five fours), but a Lungi Ngidi three-wicket over sunk India to 153 all out in 34.5 overs. Ngidi (3/30), Kagiso Rabada (3/38) and Nandre Burger (3/42) took three wickets each for SA.
Later in their second innings, SA ended the day at 62/3, with Aiden Markram (36*) doing the bulk of the scoring. Skipper Dean Elgar managed 12 runs in his final Test innings. Mukesh got two while Bumrah got one wicket. (With ANI inputs)