South Africa at 105-3 by lunch on day 1 of the first cricket test against India
On the first day of the first cricket Test match against India, South Africa ended the morning session at 105-3. This match took place at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, a venue renowned for its storied cricketing history.
Day 1 Morning Session Overview
After winning the toss, South Africa chose to bat first. In a brisk start, they reached 57 runs without losing a wicket in the initial hour. However, the situation quickly changed as they fell to 71-3 in just 5.3 overs later in the session.
Key Performers
- Wiaan Mulder: Remained unbeaten at 22 runs.
- Tony de Zorzi: Finished the session not out at 15 runs.
- Aiden Markram: Scored 31 runs before being dismissed.
- Ryan Rickelton: Contributed 23 runs to the total.
Impactful Bowling
Jasprit Bumrah proved to be a crucial player for India, taking 2 wickets for just 9 runs. His bowling significantly halted South Africa’s momentum after their initial strong start.
Changes and Conditions
Kagiso Rabada missed the match due to a rib injury. He was replaced by Corbin Bosch, a medium-pace all-rounder. South Africa’s bowling attack included two spinners, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj.
Conditions were in favor of the batters initially, but India’s bowlers adapted well, bouncing back after an early onslaught by the South African openers.
Historical Context
This match holds significance for South Africa, who last achieved a Test victory in India back in 2015. Their last Test series win on Indian soil dates back to 2000-01 under the captaincy of Hansie Cronje.
Upcoming Matches
Kolkata is hosting its first Test since 2019. The next match in the series will be held on November 22 at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, which will host its first men’s Test after previously accommodating several fixtures in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
India recently completed a successful 2-0 series against the West Indies, with Yadav leading as the top bowler, claiming 12 wickets. Meanwhile, South Africa recently drew a two-Test series against Pakistan with a score of 1-1.
