World cricket witnessed one of the most thrilling games in recent times on January 3, 2024, during the second Test played between India and South Africa. The opening day at Cape Town saw the second most wickets to fall on Day 1 of a Test match, with 23 tumbling. The record of 25 wickets falling in a day dates back to an Australia versus England Test in 1902. India also made history by losing six wickets in a row without adding a single run.
Six years earlier, at the same venue, the two sides came up with some scintillating performances as 18 wickets fell on this day in January 2018. And it was the Proteas who eventually emerged victorious in the Test series opener.
The opening fixture against South Africa also marked ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s debut in Test cricket.
Fans witnessed an exceptional brand of cricket during the Cape Town Test as 18 wickets fell on this day back in 2018.
South Africa gained an advantage in the initial phase of the match having secured a first-innings lead of 77 runs. South Africa were expected to make full use of the advantage and set a mammoth total for India but the visitors displayed sensational bowling in the second innings to keep themselves alive in the contest.
Resuming the penultimate day at 65 for two, South Africa appeared favourites to clinch a massive lead but Indian seamers simply had some other plans. India’s pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami picked up three wickets each to bowl out South Africa for 130 in the second innings.
Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also contributed significantly by claiming two wickets each. The Faf du Plessis-led managed to extend their lead to 207 runs in the second innings.
The 208-run target seemed quite achievable considering India’s star-studded batting line-up which comprised heavyweights like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara.
India did not have a promising start to their run chase after Morne Morkel broke the opening partnership at 30. Dhawan was the first to depart for 16. India’s other opening batter Murali Vijay was dismissed in the very next over.
Coming down to bat at number three, Cheteshwar Pujara also failed to do anything crucial as he fell prey to Morne Morkel for four. Team India captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma offered some fightback having stitched a vital partnership of 32. Their stand did not last long after Kohli was sent back to the dressing room for 28.
Virat Kohli’s dismissal triggered a collapse and India soon found themselves in a precarious situation losing seven wickets with just 82 runs on board. Ravichandran Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar attempted to stage a comeback by producing a partnership of 49 runs.
South Africa pacer Vernon Philander came to his side’s rescue by picking up the wicket of Ravichandran Ashwin. The India all-rounder was his side’s highest scorer in the second innings with 37. India eventually folded for 135. Philander ended up with amazing figures of 6/42 in the second innings to guide South Africa to a remarkable 72-run win. Philander was also adjudged player of the match in that game.
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