India or South Africa -Which team is leading after the first day of the second Test in Cape Town?
The first day of the second Test between India and South Africa in Cape Town was highlighted by a march to the dressing room.
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India or South Africa -Which team is leading after the first day of the second Test in Cape Town?
On a track that provided many of opportunities for bowlers, both teams’ seamers worked hard to keep the batsmen at bay.
It was the second occasion in Cape Town that a Test match saw 23 wickets fall in a single day. The other being the South Africa-Australia encounter in 2011.
The total was also the fifth-highest in a single day and the second-highest on an opening day in Test history.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj blasted through South Africa’s batting in the opening session. Bowling out the hosts for their lowest Test total since readmission of 55.
In response, India appeared to be coasting at 153/4 before suffering one of the most startling collapses. And losing their final six wickets without adding a run.
After being bowled out for 153 with a 98-run advantage. The visitors picked up three Proteas wickets to reduce them to 62/3 at stumps on Day 1.
Even though the penultimate innings is underway, the game has yet to see a single half-century, with Virat Kohli’s 46 being the highest score thus far.
With the two-Test series nearing its conclusion, let us see who comes out on top after the first day at Newlands.
Consider the following facts concerning the recent Tests in Cape Town
It is also one of the few sites where the coin toss is not used. With the 12 outcome games divided between the team batting first and the team chasing in the fourth innings.
While the bat-ball balance remains consistent throughout all four innings. There have been a few situations where chasing in the later innings gets easier.
The last time India and South Africa met at the venue in 2022, it was a low-scoring affair, with the hosts easily chasing 212 by seven wickets.
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However, it is worth noting that the first two days of batting remain a nightmare for the hitters until the venom in the pitch kicks in, making the final days of batting pretty simple.
India has a significant lead coming into Day 2
Without considering the location or the wickets, it is obvious that the team that leads by 36 runs with the opponent three down in their second innings is comfortably ahead.
Add to it the fact that the Cape Town wicket, unlike Asian wickets, does not decline and only improves as the game progresses, and Team India is undoubtedly on top.
They will, however, be well to recall South Africa’s fantastic record at Cape Town, where they won 19 and lost four Tests in 29.
Even if the Proteas bat out of their skins and give India a goal of more than 150 or 200 runs, they will get to play in the closing session of Day 2 and Day 3 when the surface generally improves for batting.
Given the history of the site and the match circumstances, South Africa winning the second Test would be a miracle of epic proportions, helped by an Indian collapse.