SA vs IND: 2nd Test Review – India level series in the shortest ever Test
After an eventful Day 1 of the second Test between India and South Africa, at Newlands, Cape Town, the cricket world was hoping for some more intense action on the second day and they got that as India clinched a historic and unprecedented win at the Newlands.
The Proteas started the day at 62/3, trailing India’s first-innings lead by 36 runs. David Bedingham was dismissed in the first over of the day by Jasprit Bumrah. Kyle Verreynne also departed soon after as the hosts were staring down the barrel. As wickets kept tumbling from the other end, the onus was on Aiden Markram to take his team to a decent second-innings lead.
The right-handed batter played some aggressive strokes and put the Indian bowlers under pressure. South Africa went past India’s lead thanks to Markram’s counter-attacking innings. He notched up his seventh Test hundred off just 99 balls. He departed after scoring 106 off just 103 balls, as Mohammed Siraj got the better of him.
It was only a matter of time before the Indian seamers would wrap up the South African innings. Bumrah finished with a six-for as South Africa were bowled out for 176.
Chasing a paltry target of 79, India got off to a flying start thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal. The youngster scored a quickfire 28 off 23 balls, hitting six fours. After he was dismissed by a short ball from Nandre Burger, Shubman Gill came in and played a couple of delightful strokes before getting dismissed to a ball that was kept low from Kagiso Rabada.
Virat Kohli was the last batter to be dismissed for 12 off 11 balls by Marco Jansen. India got to the target in just 13 overs, with seven wickets to spare.
Top Performers of the Match
Aiden Markram (106 off 103): Markram was the best batter on Day 2 by a distance. He played some gorgeous strokes on the spicy Newlands pitch and looked compact with his technique. His 106-run knock came off just 103 deliveries, and it was studded with 17 fours and two sixes. Markram’s knock will be remembered for a long time as it came in one of the most challenging conditions for batting.
Jasprit Bumrah (6/61, 13.5 overs): After picking up a couple of wickets in the first innings on Day 1, Bumrah backed it up with a six-for on Day 2. He took the wickets of Bedingham, Verreynne, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi in the first session on Day 2, finishing with excellent figures of 6/61 in 13.5 overs.
What’s next?
India will face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series at home. The first game will be played in Mohali on Thursday, January 11. Meanwhile, a new-look South African side will travel to New Zealand to play a two-match Test series in February.
