SL Vs SA, 2nd Test: Twitter Reacts as Keshav Maharaj Scalps Nine Wickets in an Innings

Published - 21 Jul 2018, 03:21 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:40 AM

Keshav Maharaj, South Africa, Lancashire
Keshav Maharaj has signed a deal with Lanchashire. (Image Courtesy: AFP)

South Africa???s spinner Keshav Maharaj scalped nine wickets in the first innings of the second and final Test of the ongoing series Sri Lanka in Colombo. Consequently, the visitors were able to restrict the hosts to 338 in the first innings.

Thus, Maharaj becomes overall 17th bowler to pick nine or more wickets in Test innings. In fact, the left-arm tweaker becomes only the second Proteas bowler to take nine wickets in an innings since its readmission in 1991.

Keshav Maharaj
South African cricketer Keshav Maharaj acknowledges the crowd in Colombo. (Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/Getty Images)

Maharaj comes up with his magnificent performance:

Furthermore, the slow bowler also became the first bowler to take nine wickets in Asia against an Asian team. Therefore, the history books were re-written after a magical spell from Maharaj.

Moreover, legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Jim Laker are the only two bowlers who have taken nine wickets twice in their respective career.

Interestingly, Maharaj became only the second left-arm bowler to take nine wickets in an innings, after ace Lankan bowler Rangana Herath. South Africa???s emerging pack leader Kagiso Rabada was able to take the remaining one wicket.

Maharaj bowled 41.1 overs in which he conceded 129. Thus, he was right on the money with his line and length.

However, South Africa is already trailing by 1-0 in the series. In fact, the tourists didn???t get off to an ideal start in their first innings. The visitors have already lost three crucial wickets to once again find themselves behind the eight ball in the series.

Keshav Maharaj
(Photo by Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, South Africa???s most experienced batting pair is at the crease.

The Protea???s skipper Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla is on 29 and 16 respectively.

In conclusion, Amla was able to breach the 9,000-run mark in Test cricket. The right-handed batsman became the third South African batsman to achieve this feat.

Here is how Twitter reacted upon Keshav Maharaj for his nine-wicket haul.

https://twitter.com/ArjunKhanal06/status/1020549817695653889

https://twitter.com/im_anshsharma/status/1020545870566121472

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