Mohammed Siraj became only the second Indian pacer after Jasprit Bumrah, and the fifth overall to take six wickets in a single session since 2016. South Africa's top four batters managed to add only 11 runs: their second-lowest in 96 years
There was no stopping Mohammed Siraj on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. The Indian pacer produced one of the most devastating bowling spells you can hope to see as India ran through South Africa on Day 1 of the second Test at Newlands, Cape Town. After 23.2 overs, almost akin to a T20 innings span, the high-flying Proteas were bundled out for 55, with Mukesh Kumar also getting a scalp. (RSA Vs IND Scorecard | Match Blog)
The story, however, belonged to Mohammed Siraj, the 29-year-old right-arm pacer from Hyderabad, who's playing his 23rd Test. And his career figures stats read: 67 wickets with best figures of 6/15 -- one that was registered in a single session of a Test cricket, in just nine overs.
For the record, the best figures by an Indian pacer still are: Shardul Thakur's 7/61. Javagal Srinath (6/76), Mohammed Shami (5/28; 5/44), S Sreesanth (5/40) and Jasprit Bumrah (5/42) have also exploited the bouncy nature of South African pitches in the past, but none came close to Shami's fiery spell.
Tormenting the Proteas batters, who plundered runs in the Boxing Day Test to hand India a humiliating innings defeat, Siraj completed his fledgling Test career's third five-wicket haul in 47 balls, which included a double-wicket maiden. When he raised the red cherry to the chagrin on home crowd, Dean Elgar & Co. were reduced to 34/6 in the 16th over with Marco Jansen the latest wicket to fall. Elgar, who's leading the team in his farewell Test, was especially peppered with Siraj special of the day -- well-directed bouncer, and at a fiery pace.
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The brilliance of other Indian pacers, however, didn't help Siraj's cause. South African innings lasted only 23.2 overs as Mukesh Kumar and Jasprit Bumram helped themselves to a brace each. 55 all out, with two only batters -- David Bedingham (12) and Kyle Verreynne (15) -- registering double-digit scores.
And that's not the worst part of the Proteas innings. Their top four batters managed to add only 11 runs: their second-lowest in 96 years, after 12 in 1927; and their lowest since 1932. Also, a total of 55 runs is the lowest by a team against India in Test cricket.
Siraj is only the second Indian pacer, after Bumrah, and the fifth pacer overall to take six wickets in a single session since 2016, shares Cricinfo. New Zealand's Trent Boult (twice), South Africa's Vernon Philander and Chris Woakes of England are the other bowlers in the elite list.
Siraj, by the way, had previously dished out a similarly devastating spell against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023 final, where he had returned magical figures of 6/21.