South Africa Vs India, 2nd Test: Mohammed Siraj Triggers Proteas' Lowest Score Since Readmission To International Cricket - Stats From 55 All Out

Mohammed Siraj registered his third five-wicket haul and his best figures in Tests after getting six Proteas wickets at Newlands in the Cape Town Test

Outlook Sports Desk

Updated on: 3 January 2024 4:41 pm

Mohammed Siraj celebrates a wicket against South Africa at Cape Town

Indian cricket team's pace bowler Mohammed Siraj ran riot at Newlands, Capetown as his six-wicket haul ensured South Africa were all out for 55 in the first session of the first day of the second Test match on Wednesday, January 3, 2023. Siraj registered his best bowling figures in Test cricket as Proteas were bundled out for their lowest score against India, in Test cricket.?(RSA Vs IND Scorecard?|?Match Blog)

Earlier, the Proteas' lowest score in Tests since their re-entry was 73, that came in 2018 against Sri Lanka at Galle. Against India, their lowest score was 79.

South Africa's Test isolation ranged from 1970 to 1991 but the Proteas marked their return to international cricket with a series against India for a three-match ODI series. India went on to win the series 2-1.

Siraj's bowling wrecks havoc in Proteas' camp
After losing the toss to South African skipper Dean Elgar, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma would have thought the Newlands' pitch could aide the fast bowlers since it's a fresh pitch. And so it did! Siraj got Aiden Markram caught in the third slip by Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Siraj continued to make inroads as he forced Elgar to drag the ball back onto his stumps. His line and lengths were pin-point accurate as he scalped the wickets of David Bedingham and Marco Jansen.

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

Tony de Zorzi glanced down the leg-side as the southpaw edged to the keeper to give Siraj one of the easiest wickets in the session.

This is Siraj's third five-wicket haul in this 23-match Test career. At 6/15, this has been the best bowling figures for the 29-year-old India pacer, who bowled nine overs on the trot from the other end.

Siraj blowing away teams is nothing new in cricket. Back in September 2023, the Asia Cup final, the 29-year-old blew away hosts Sri Lanka for mere 50 runs as he scalped the best bowling figures in ODIs of 6/21.

ALSO READ:?Asia Cup '23 Final: Siraj Scalps Fifer In 16 Balls

South Africa's Lowest 1st Innings Total In Test Match 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

Best Bowling Returns For India In South Africa
Siraj's 6/15 ranks third in the list for Indian?bowlers' best bowling returns in the Rainbow Nation-

7/61 - Shardul Thakur, Johannesburg, 2022
7/120 - Harbhajan Singh, Cape Town, 2011
*6/15 - Mohammed Siraj, Cape Town, 2024
6/53 - Anil Kumble, Johannesburg, 1992
6/76 - Javagal Srinath, Gqeberha, 2001
6/138 - Ravindra Jadeja Durban, 2013