Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul sinks South Africa in Kolkata Test

Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul helped India bowl out South Africa for 159 on day one of the Kolkata Test. Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel supported as India ended at 37/1, trailing by 122 runs

Kolkata: Jasprit Bumrah turned a rare four-spinner gamble into his personal stage, producing a mesmerising exhibition of seam, swing and control as India skittled out South Africa for 159 on the opening day of the first Test here Friday.

On a surface that drew pre-match scrutiny for its dry look, prompting India to field four spinners for the first time since 2012, it was India’s pace star who made the ball talk the loudest, returning a superb 14-2-27-5 — his 16th five-wicket haul in 96 innings.

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Bumrah produced a masterclass across little over two sessions, as South Africa crashed from a commanding 57 for no loss in 10 overs to lose all 10 wickets for just 102 runs in the next 45 overs. Their innings lasted just four hours and 13 minutes after opting to bat.

It was South Africa’s second-lowest total after a fifty-plus opening stand in men’s Tests since their readmission. The lowest is 130 in their second innings in the 2018 Cape Town Test, also against India after a 52-run opening stand.

India ended the day at 37 for one in 20 overs, with KL Rahul (13 batting from 59 balls) and Washington Sundar (six batting from 38 balls) steady at the crease after Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) dragged Marco Jansen onto his stumps.

South Africa, missing lead pacer Kagiso Rabada due to a rib injury, had looked primed for a big score after Aiden Markram (31) and Ryan Rickelton (23) put up a brisk opening stand. But Bumrah’s spell turned the morning on its head with two wickets in five balls.

Mohammed Siraj (2/47) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/29) tightened the noose in the second session, while Axar Patel (1/21) chipped in with the wicket of Corbin Bosch.