Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc on South Africa in the second Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town. The duo combined to take 15 wickets, propelling India to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory. This historic win marked India’s first-ever triumph in Cape Town and established them as the first Asian team to achieve a Test victory at the venue.
Mohammed Siraj, who secured a six-wicket haul in the first innings, earned the Player of the Match accolade for his instrumental role in dismissing the hosts for a mere 55 runs. During the post-match presentation, when asked about his feelings, Siraj, with a smile, brought Jasprit Bumrah as his translator.
However, Bumrah playfully responded in English to the anchor’s initial question, leading to both pacers bursting into laughter. The second Test set a record as the shortest red-ball game with a result, concluding with only 642 balls (107 overs) bowled.
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South Africa’s decision to bat first backfired dramatically on Day 1, as they were dismissed for a paltry 55 in the first innings. India, batting in response, secured a 98-run lead, with Virat Kohli contributing 46 runs in 59 balls. Despite Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul, the hosts faced a challenging deficit.
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In the second innings, captained by Dean Elgar, South Africa managed only a slim 78-run lead, with Indian pacers dominating. Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, was exceptional, claiming 6/61, while Mohammed Siraj dismissed key batsman Aiden Markram, who scored a notable 106 off 103 balls. The relentless pace attack proved too formidable for the Proteas.
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Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar performance earned him his ninth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, marking his third such achievement in South Africa. This achievement tied him with former speedster Javagal Srinath for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian bowler. Mohammed Siraj’s Player of the Match award and Bumrah’s shared Player of the Series award with Elgar underscored India’s dominance in the Test series.
