SA v India: 23 wickets fall on manic opening day of Cape Town Test

An incredible 23 wickets fell on the first day of the New Year's Test between South Africa and India in Cape Town, with the hosts reaching 62-3 at stumps in their second innings, trailing the tourists by 36 runs.

Aiden Markram (36 not out) and David Bedingham (seven not out) were at the crease, hoping to post a challenging target for India.

Seamer Mohammed Siraj started the day in scintillating fashion, picking up career-best 6-15 as the visitors skittled their hosts for just 55 in the first innings after they elected to bat on a wicket offering plenty of assistance to the bowlers.

India were coasting at 153-4 in reply, on track to bat just once in the game and take a match-winning lead. But then came the most incredible passage of play as India lost six wickets without scoring a run, the first time that has happened in Tests.

The list of unwanted milestones did not stop there for the visitors as they had six batsmen dismissed for ducks – which equalled the previous record.

The first two innings lasted 349 balls, the second fewest in 147 years of Test cricket.

In the second outing, South Africa lost captain Dean Elgar twice in the day before his retirement, which he announced ahead of the series. He scored four and 12.

Mukesh Kumar (2-25) grabbed Elgar's wicket in the second innings, and that of Tony de Zorzi (2 & 1), while Jasprit Bumrah removed debutant Tristan Stubbs (3 & 1) as the home side were left teetering at the close.

South Africa were pegged back in their first innings by a superb nine-over spell from Siraj, who got late movement on both sides.

What also aided India was their catching as the slip fielders were in top form the entire day, snapping up every chance that came their way.

South Africa v India - 2nd