Indian pacers create a unique Test record

India is currently playing with four fast bowlers in the ongoing first Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. The skipper Virat Kohli has gone with the pace trio of Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah to be assisted by the all-rounder Hardik Pandya. They have bowled well as a unit and have troubled the home side so far. However, this is the first instance when all the four fast bowlers of India have taken at least three wickets in a Test match.

After losing the toss, Bhuvi swung the game towards India’s way in the first hour by scalping the top three wickets of the hosts. The other bowlers too supported him well bowling South Africa on the first day itself on 286. While Bumrah castled the counter-attacking AB de Villiers, Pandya fluffed the opposition skipper Faf du Plessis with a snorter. Even Shami struck after starting poorly and disturbed the timbers of Vernon Philander. R Ashwin snuffed a couple of tailenders in the end to finish the innings.

Pacers wreak havoc on the third morning

The third day’s play was completely washed out due to rain but the way the game was panned out, the result was imminent given the sporting pitch on offer. But the way action transpired on the third morning has shocked the home side. The bowling attack of India led by Shami absolutely wreaked havoc and snuffed out wickets in quick time. It was all started by Shami as he scaped Hashim Amla and Kagiso Rabada in his successive overs. Soon Bumrah bowled an absolute snorter of a delivery which reared off a good length to dismiss du Plessis for a duck.

He also bowled a similar one which surprised the dangerous Quinton de Kock and was sent back on review. India now have a real chance of victory in the Test match with the lead of South Africa still a fair way away from 200. So far Shami and Bhuvi have taken four wickets each as the young duo Bumrah and Pandya have scalped three each. They would love to bowl them out soon and bat well in their second innings by taking a lead in the three-match series.

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