Bumrah Runs Riot But Markram’s Counter-attacking Hundred Give South Africa a Fighting Chance

Yet another enthralling day of Test match action ensued as South Africa resumed their innings after what can only be termed as a unpredictable day one in the second Test between India and South Africa.

The pacers had a dream outing as 23 wickets fell out of which 22 were taken by the fast bowlers on Day 1 of the second Test match at Newlands, Cape Town. The batters had a forgettable day. Interestingly, it is the second-most number of wickets that fell on the first day of a Test match and the joint-most on the Proteas’ soil.

The first day ended with South Africa resuming their second innings, at 62/3 with opener Aiden Markram and David Bedingham at the crease looking to establish a solid innings to trouble the innings. But alas, that would not be the case.

It did not take any longer than the first over of the day for Jasprit Bumrah to strike and remove Bedingham from the crease immediately.

Bumrah’s brilliance had just begun for the day, as he would go on to ravage and wreak havoc over the South Africa middle-order removing both Kyle  Verreynne and Marco Jansen in quick intervals as the wickets just kept tumbling yet again for South Africa.

There was no stopping the steamrolling of Bumrah, who reached his sixth fifer against SENA oppositon, equalling Zaheer Khan’s tally.

Reading the situation, Aiden Markram decided to go on the counter-attack and attack he did as the opener sliced and slayed every delivery coming his way, to keep the runs trickling in for SA.

Markram reached his century in some fashion demolishing Prasidh Krishna for 20 runs in this first over of the second innings and smacked Bumrah for two more boundaries to bring up a swashbuckling century, peppered with 17 fours and 2 sixes.

Right when it looked like Markram was set in place to continue his blitzkrieg, Siraj came through clutch with a good length delivery to tempt him into slogging it high as the ball fell comfortably into the hands of skipper Rohit Sharma as he departed for a sensational 106 runs off 103 balls.

It was then easy pickings for India who quickly dismissed the likes of Rabada and Ngidi, as Bumrah ended the session with figures of 6/61 in 13.5 overs and South Africa were bowled out for a measly 176, setting India a target of 79 runs to win the match.