(Cricket News) Mohammed Siraj’s spectacular spell of seam bowling (6-15) was the clear showstopper as the pacer picked all his wickets in his opening nine-over burst to send South Africa crashing to 55 all out in the opening session.

If the Centurion Test was a quick finish, the Cape Town encounter looks primed for a much shorter span as India took control of the opening day which saw 23 wickets fall on a mean and spicy pitch.

Dean Elgar chose to bat, maybe thinking things would get worse as the match progressed, but things could not have gone more wrong for his side right away. Siraj started off beautifully, taking apart Aiden Markram before getting Elgar to chop one on to the stumps.

With lavish seam movement and inconsistent bounce available, batting was a lottery whenever the pacers hit the right lengths. Unfortunately for South Africa, the hosts had no answers because India’s bowlers, led by Siraj, got it wrong far too frequently, leaving the hosts helpless. Only two batters reached double figures in what was a pitiful batting performance from the Proteas. Siraj was unplayable for the most part.

After Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed early, both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got off to quick starts, but neither batsman could go on to bigger things; perhaps that was just the nature of the pitch, as it was the kind of track where a batter could never feel set at the crease.

With the pitch playing all kinds of tricks, India sensed the need to bat with high intent, given that survival was a game of chance.

In the second session, Nandre Burger bowled brilliantly to strike three wickets, ensuring that South Africa remained in the hunt and that India was not going to cruise to victory. But the most bizarre part of the day was still to come.

Virat Kohli had started the match off in a streaky manner but soon found his rhythm with some noteworthy shots, the best of which was a ravishing pull against Kagiso Rabada. After 33 overs, India were 153/4 with Kohli set and KL Rahul trying to get some traction. The lead was creeping up to 100 and, on this pitch, that was a position of immense strength.

Eleven deliveries later, and the most unbelievable sequence of play you would ever see-saw India bowled out without a single run being added. It began with a triple-wicket maiden from Lungi Ngidi.

Both pacers pounded away on that hard length and got an extra bounce to leave India’s batters in strife; even with the incredible nature of South Africa’s first-innings performance, this implosion from India was astounding.

The pacer had bowled way below his best for a major part of the innings but sprung to life with a magical spell (3-30) to stun India. Kagiso Rabada (3-38) followed it up in the next over to send India packing for 153.

Although Elgar and Markram started the match steadily, the latter’s dismissal allowed India to add a couple more strikes late in the day. Mukesh Kumar was excellent for the visitors, and Jasprit Bumrah was his usual menacing self.

With four full days remaining and seven wickets down, South Africa will hope for a stronger effort from the remaining batters. Nevertheless, the lead of 98 meant a mountain to climb for South Africa on this increasingly difficult deck.

Brief scores: South Africa 55 in 23.2 overs (Kyle Verreynne 15; Mohammed Siraj 6-15) and 62/3 (Aiden Markram 36*; Mukesh Kumar 2-25). India 153 (Virat Kohli 46, Rohit Sharma 39; Lungi Ngidi 3-30, Kagiso Rabada 3-38).

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