IND vs SA 2nd Test: Proteas register their lowest Test score; Siraj takes 6

Mohammed Siraj registered his third five-wicket haul and his best figures in Tests after getting six South African wickets at Newlands in the New Year's Test

India’s Mohammed Siraj bamboozled the South African top-order with a six-wicket haul in the first session of the first day of the second Test at Newlands, Capetown on Wednesday, January 03, 2023. Siraj registered his best bowling figures in Test cricket and bundled out the hosts to their lowest score, 55, in Test cricket. Earlier, South Africa's lowest score in Tests since re-entry was 73, which came against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2018. Against India, their lowest Test score was 79.

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Lowest 1st innings totals in Test matches in Cape Town
For	Against	Score	Year
New Zealand	South Africa	45	2013
Zimbabwe	South Africa	54	2005
South Africa	India	55	2024
England	South Africa	92	1899
Sri Lanka	South Africa	95	2001
South Africa	England	97	1892
South Africa	England	113	1923
South Africa	England	115	1896
England	South Africa	133	1927
England	South Africa	153	1996
Pakistan	South Africa	157	2007

How Siraj created havoc in Protea camp

After losing the toss and bowling first, Siraj gave India their first breakthrough in the New Year’s Test. He got Aiden Markram caught in the third slip by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Siraj continued to make inroads into the Proteas' batting order as he forced Dean Elgar to fish for a ball outside off and drag it back onto his stumps. 

Finding his nip back after a wayward Boxing Day Test, Siraj bowled bouncers with pinpoint accuracy, which turned the game in his favour. 

After making sure the batters were on the back foot, playing for the bouncer, Siraj used his line and length depending on the batter's weakness. A  full ball, drawing the batter forced and managing an edge off his bat. The wickets of David Bedingham and Marco Jasne were a prime example of that strategy. 

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Tony de Zorzi was the only dismissal of Siraj for which the bowler would be thankful to the batter rather than his line and length, as the left-hander managed to get an edge to the keeper in an attempt to glance the ball down the leg. 

This was Siraj’s third five-wicket haul in his 23-match career. At 6/15, this has been the best bowling figure for the 29-year-old India pacer, who bowled nine overs on a trot from one end. 

Siraj bowling records over the years

Years	Matches	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Econ	5w	10w
Year 2020	1	2	36.3	8	77	5	3/37	5/77	2.1	0	0
Year 2021	10	19	292.5	63	929	31	5/73	8/126	3.17	1	0
Year 2022	4	8	94.2	11	392	10	4/66	4/87	4.15	0	0
Year 2023	7	11	146.1	25	477	15	5/60	5/84	3.26	1	0
Year 2024	1	1	9	3	15	6	6/15	6/15	1.66	1	0

Source: Cricinfo


South Africa's lowest score in Test cricket

Team	Score	Overs	RR	Inns	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
South Africa	55	23.2	2.36	1	v India	Cape Town	3 Jan 2024
South Africa	73	28.5	2.53	4	v Sri Lanka	Galle	12 Jul 2018
South Africa	79	33.1	2.38	2	v India	Nagpur	25 Nov 2015
South Africa	83	33.1	2.5	3	v England	Johannesburg	14 Jan 2016
South Africa	84	25.1	3.33	2	v India	Johannesburg	15 Dec 2006
South Africa	95	49.2	1.92	1	v New Zealand	Christchurch	17 Feb 2022
South Africa	96	24.3	3.91	2	v Australia	Cape Town	9 Nov 2011
South Africa	99	37.4	2.62	3	v Australia	Brisbane	17 Dec 2022
South Africa	105	38.5	2.7	4	v India	Ahmedabad	20 Nov 1996
South Africa	109	39.5	2.73	4	v India	Mohali	5 Nov 2015
South Africa	111	41.4	2.66	3	v New Zealand	Christchurch	17 Feb 2022

source: cricinfo