Siraj spell for the ages...

...blows South Africa away for 55. But a dramatic Indian collapse - 6 wickets in 11 balls for no run gives hosts a reprieve

- Somshuvra Laha

The first sign of a well-laid trap came in the form of an immaculately pitched, driveable yet not-so-driveable delivery that culminated in a screamer of a catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at second slip.

Dean Elgar chopping on to the stumps was a dismissal two innings in the making, but better late than never.

Foxing Tony de Zorzi into a strangle down the leg wasn't exactly classic Mohammed Siraj but definitely harks back to the debut tour of Australia where he exploited the leg-side so well.

In all, what took the breath away though was that hypnotic line outside off-stump, dismantling South Africa's confidence one wicket at a time.

Cape Town never looked sunnier in the aftermath of Siraj's 9-3-15-6, which could be the most impactful, if not the finest, opening spell by an Indian fast bowler in Test cricket.

South Africa were dismissed for 55 at the stroke of lunch on Day 1, but the home fast bowlers and mindless batting by the Indian lower-half resulted six wickets being lost in the space of 11 balls without conceding a run a world record that reduced India to 155 and opened the Test match wide open.