India blew South Africa away within one and a half days in the second Test of the series at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Thursday. The visitors, whom South Africa thrashed in the first Test held in Centurion, came back to level the series.
It would be exciting to see a third Test match, but Cricket South Africa cannot refuse players from participating in the SA20 League.
South Africa shocked everyone when they chose to bat first on a greenish surface at Newlands after winning the toss. As former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said, South Africa would have been in pole position had they asked India to bat on such a surface. It was very likely after the thrashing they received in the first Test in Centurion.
Yet, as things turned out, it went from bad to worse for South Africa, and they were skittled out for 55 in 23.2 overs. Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj was the star of the show, as he blew the South African batting order away with a six-wicket haul.
India fared slightly better than their opponents when they walked out to bat, although they sized up a 98-run lead. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger picked up three wickets each.
South Africa, coming out to bat in the second innings, were helped tremendously by Aiden Markram’s quickfire century. His performance could prevent them from getting all out for 176. Jasprit Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief with six wickets to his name this time.
India then chased the required runs down quite comfortably, although they lost three wickets. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer saw them home quite comfortably.
The pitch here in Newlands was understandably dangerous to play, and what the match referee thinks of it remains to be seen. India were quite fortunate to end the series 1-1 and not come home without anything to speak for their efforts.
