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

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.

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.

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.

Best Bowling figures in an Inning by a South African :

H Tayfield 113/9 vs England, 1957
Keshav Maharaj 129/9 vs Sri Lanka, Today**
G Lawrence 53/8 vs New Zealand, 1961#SLvSA #KeshavMaharaj

— Akhil Gupta ? (@Guptastats92) July 21, 2018

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

If only Rabada didn't take that one solitary wicket in the 1st innings…#KeshavMaharaj

— Shrikant Shankar (@Shrikant_23) July 21, 2018

#keshavmaharaj wonderful proud as Indian

— venki yadav… (@mvkoti551) July 20, 2018

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

In his first series in the subcontinent, Keshav Maharaj takes the second-best figures by a South Africa bowler in a Test innings 129/9 #KeshavMaharaj #ProteaFire #SLvSA

— PlayerzPot (@PlayerzPot) July 21, 2018

Incredible #KeshavMaharaj 9 wkts haul.. Wow ? #SLvSA Test.

— Naveen Roy (@naveenroy1) July 21, 2018