How Did Bumrah Achieve a Fifer as India Bowled Out SA for 159?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jasprit Bumrah showcased his incredible skill with a five-wicket haul.
- South Africa struggled with their batting, collapsing from 57/0 to 159.
- India's bowling attack proved relentless, with contributions from Siraj and Kuldeep.
- The match highlighted the unpredictable nature of the pitch.
- Crowd support played a vital role in boosting Bumrah's performance.
Kolkata, Nov 14 (NationPress) The fast-bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah showcased his remarkable skills by achieving impressive figures of 5-27 as India dismissed South Africa for a mere 159 runs on the opening day of the first Test at Eden Gardens this Friday.
After winning the toss, South Africa opted to bat on a pitch with unpredictable bounce and initially appeared set for a substantial total at 57/0 in the 11th over. However, Bumrah's quick removal of the opening batsmen triggered a sudden collapse in their innings.
The visitors saw all ten wickets fall for just 102 runs, with their middle order unable to handle the intense pressure. This marked Bumrah's 16th five-wicket haul in Test matches.
Alongside Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav contributed with two wickets each, while Axar Patel added one to his tally.
A crowd of approximately 35,000 fans fervently cheered for Bumrah during his fiery two-over spell after tea. Their anticipation was rewarded as he secured his five-wicket haul, while South Africa recorded their second-lowest first-innings total against India, squandering the advantage of winning the toss.
The session post-tea commenced with Bumrah striking first, sending Simon Harmer’s off-stump flying. A few balls later, a fierce inswinging yorker trapped Keshav Maharaj lbw for a duck, leaving Tristan Stubbs to witness the destruction from the other end with an unbeaten score of 15.
Earlier, South Africa's Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram handled the initial overs with poise, reaching the fifty mark in the opening partnership—a first for the Proteas in India after 17 innings. Rickelton displayed flair early on, punishing Siraj's wayward deliveries with three boundaries.
Markram, who took 22 balls to get off the mark, settled in after a cautious start, hitting stunning boundaries and even dispatching Axar for six over long-on.
Bumrah, who varied his deliveries from sharp bouncers to low balls, brought India back into contention with a double strike, dismissing Rickelton and Markram in quick succession.
South Africa's momentum was further disrupted when Kuldeep trapped Temba Bavuma, resulting in a quick succession of wickets as they slipped from 57/0 to 71/3. Mulder and de Zorzi displayed resistance against the spinners until lunch.
After the break, Kuldeep and Bumrah maintained their accuracy, leading to Mulder's dismissal. Bumrah continued to dominate, trapping Tony de Zorzi lbw for 24, while Siraj found his rhythm, taking two wickets in the 45th over.
Axar joined the wicket-taking spree just before tea, dismissing Corbin Bosch to leave South Africa in a precarious position.
In the final session, South Africa could only add five runs before Bumrah swiftly wrapped up their innings, securing a memorable five-for that delighted the Kolkata crowd.
Brief Scores: South Africa 159 in 55 overs (Aiden Markram 31, Ryan Rickelton 23; Jasprit Bumrah 5-27, Kuldeep Yadav 2-36) against India