After a 1.5-day end finish to the second Test between India and South Africa, a lot has been said and written about the pitch that was used in the match. Team India emerged triumphant in the contest but not before 23 wickets fell on the opening day. India captain Rohit Sharma also publicly criticised the indifferent verdicts from match referees when it comes to early conclusion of contests in India and overseas. Now, ICC match referee Chris Broad has announced his rating for the Newlands pitch.
The match referee has given an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating to the pitch used in the second Test between India and South Africa, also handing a demerit point.
“The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on. The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce,” Broad said.
After South Africa won the toss, they were bowled out for 55 in 23.2 overs inside the first session of the opening day’s play. Mohammed Siraj ran through the Proteas batting by picking up 6 wickets for 15 runs in 9 overs.
Thereafter, India took a lead of 98 runs in the first innings after being bowled out for 153. From 153 for 4 in 33 overs, the visitors lost their last 6 wickets for no run on the board in a space of 11 balls.
In the second innings, the Proteas scored 176 in 36.5 overs, thereby setting India a target of 79 to chase down. This time around, Jasprit Bumrah came to the party after he picked up 6 wickets for 61 runs.
For South Africa, Aiden Markram was the lone warrior after he scored 106 runs off 103 balls with 17 fours and 2 sixes. India chased down the target in 12 overs to win the match by 7 wickets.
