Cape Town, Jan 3: Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was on fire on Day-1 of the second Test between India and South Africa, here on Wednesday. He finished with career best Test bowling figure of 6/15 in just 9 overs.
Electing to bat first, South Africa were all out for a paltry 55 in just 23.2 overs.
In reply India too collapsed for 153 all out in 34.5 overs. Indian score-card in first innings too was not very impressive. Seven Indian batters were dismissed for ducks.
Baring skipper Rohit Sharma (39), Shubman Gill (36) and Virat Kohli (46), others failed miserably with the bat.
South African pacers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger claimed three Indian first innings wickets each.
Earlier in the day, Indian pacers surprised and dominated the African batters on their home turf.
Siraj had already claimed a fifer before Lunch on Day-1, derailing the hosts first innings.
Siraj grabbed five of the six wickets that fell before Lunch on the first morning, with his new ball partner Jasprit Bumrah getting the remaining wicket.
Indian pacers shared all the 10 African wickets in first innings. Siraj grabbed 6, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar scalped a couple each.
Both the openers captain Dean Elgar (4 in 15 balls) and Aiden Markram (2 in 10 balls) were removed by Siraj.
South Africa skipper Dean Elgar had no hesitation in batting first in his farewell Test. But it was Siraj, who bowled with venom in bowling friendly conditions.
Seasoned opener Markram, was first to go with Yashasvi Jaiswal holding a fine catch at second slip. Proteas got the first shock, with score-card reflecting 5/1 in 3.2 overs.
Elgar, playing his final red-ball match in international cricket, was bowled by Siraj, with South Africa struggling at 8/2 in 5.3 overs.
Elgar has been the biggest obstacle for India in the last two tours to South Africa. Indian players had a huge celebration to see him off early.
Experienced Jasprit Bumrah, who was equally effective like Siraj on lively Cape Town track, was rather luckless, with Siraj dominating the show. But he too joined the wickets column soon.
Bumrah scalped debutant Tristan Stubbs, caught by skipper Rohit Sharma at short leg for only 3 runs.
Tony de Zorzi, was sent back by Siraj, who got him caught by keeper KL Rahul for 2 runs in 17 balls. The hosts were reduced to 15/4 in 9.2 overs.
Siraj then got rid of David Bedingham, who offered a catch to Jaiswal at slip and departed for 12 in 17 balls. Jaiswal held his second catch of the day at slip cordon.
Marco Jansen could not repeat his Centurion Test heroics with the bat. He edged a leg-cutter to keeper K L Rahul, and departed for a duck in 3 balls. Siraj celebrated his fifer. South Africa were reeling at 34/6 in 15.5 overs.
After Lunch, Siraj returned with the same enthusiasm and concentration. He ended South Africa keeper Kyle Verreynne's little resistance, as alert Shubman Gill grabbed a nice catch at second slip.
With Verreynne's scalp, Siraj got his first 6-wicket success in Test cricket in just 9 overs. The hosts were in more trouble with 45/7 in only 15.5 overs.
Finally, Siraj got a break from his marathon spell. He was replaced by young right-arm pacer Mukesh Kumar.
Trying to target young Mukesh, Keshav Maharaj (3) was caught at mid-wicket by Bumrah. Mukesh jumped with joy at success in his first over.
Bumrah got Nandre Burger (4 in 11 balls) at slip, caught by Jaiswal, who gladly accepted the third catch at slip cordon.
Mukesh ended Kagiso Rabada's short stay at the crease, getting him out at fourth slip, with Shreyas Iyer grabbing a nice edge.
Rabada went back scoring 5 in 13 balls, as African innings ended with 55/10 in 23.2 overs.
Both teams had a few changes in their playing XI that played the Centurion Test, which India lost with a huge margin.
India preferred Ravindra Jadeja and Mukesh Kumar to Ravi Ashwin and Shardul Thakur.
However, the visitors decided to give one more opportunity to young pacer Prasidh Krishna, though he was totally off-colour in the Centurion match.
South Africa handed a debut to batter Tristan Stubbs, as their regular skipper Temba Bavuma was ruled out due to a left hamstring injury in first Test. Bavuma did not bat in the Centurion Test due to injury.
African Pacer Lungi Ngidi, and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also were roped in place of injured fast-bowler Gerald Coetzee and Keegan Petersen respectively.
South Africa XI:
Dean Elgar (captain), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.
India Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Mukesh Kumar.
