Jasprit Bumrah-inspired India won the second Test match against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday and levelled the series.

Jasprit Bumrah took six for 61 –- and was denied the wicket of Markram when the batsman, on 71, edged a drive and wicketkeeper KL Rahul could not hold a catch above his head. But his efforts to take the last wicket of Lungi Ngidi paid off as the tourists restricted the hosts to under 100 runs.

The Rohit Sharma-led side needed 79 runs to level the series in the second and farewell match of South African skipper Dean Elgar.

The contest was dominated by bowlers as the five-day match concluded in one day and a half. The match also entered the record books on Wednesday when 23 wickets fell on Day 1. It was a second such match in cricket’s history after 25 wickets were fallen on Day 1 of the 1901 Ashes Test between Australia and England in Melbourne.

India chased the target in 12 overs for the loss of three wickets. Shreyas Iyer played the winning shot.

Chasing a small target on a difficult pitch, Indian opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal went on the attack from the first ball, making 28 off 23 deliveries before being caught on the boundary off Nandre Burger.

Shubman Gill (10) and Virat Kohli (12) fell to Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen before Shreyas Iyer hit the winning boundary with his only scoring stroke.

Captain Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 16.

Aiden Markram hit a thrilling century for South Africa, helping his side to put a total to give a fairytale ending to Elgar’s on his last Test. But he was denied as no batter could give him support from the other end.

Markram hit 106 off 103 balls before South Africa were bowled out for 176 shortly before lunch.

They added 94 runs for the loss of seven wickets during the morning.

India, beaten by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test in Centurion, needed 79 runs to square the two-match series.

Markram defied a pitch which has given inordinate help to the bowlers and on which the highest score of any of his teammates in either innings was 15.

He hit 17 fours and two sixes, one of which, off Prasidh Krishna, sailed out of the ground and onto a railway line beyond square leg.

The 29-year-old was finally out caught at mid-off by Indian captain Rohit Sharma off Mohammed Siraj attempting another big hit.

(With input from AFP)

More to follow…