India’s bowlers clawed their way into the contest with disciplined spells as South Africa closed the opening day of the second Test on 247 for six, surrendering the advantage after a series of soft dismissals in Guwahati on Saturday. The surface at the Barsapara Stadium, unlike the Kolkata track that derailed the previous match, offered a fair test of skill, with enough in it for the bowlers without posing undue difficulty for batters willing to graft.
Kuldeep Yadav led India’s effort with figures of three for 48, while Jasprit Bumrah (one for 38), Ravindra Jadeja (one for 30) and Mohammed Siraj (one for 52) complemented the attack with sustained pressure. South Africa’s batters, however, were architects of their own undoing after doing the hard work early in the day.
The turning point arrived with Temba Bavuma’s dismissal for 41 off 92 balls. Having stitched an 84-run stand with Tristan Stubbs, the South African captain succumbed to an over-pitched delivery from Jadeja, attempting a lofted drive over mid-off. The ball held up slightly, struck high on the bat, and Yashasvi Jaiswal completed a neat catch. Until then, Bavuma had been composed, weathering early threats and guiding his side into a position of relative comfort.
Stubbs, who looked increasingly assured during his 49 off 112 balls, soon followed. Kuldeep angled one across his body and the tall right-hander, in two minds, attempted a delicate steer that was never on. KL Rahul at first slip pouched the regulation catch. Stubbs, who had earlier used his long stride to good effect and struck two sixes off Kuldeep, fell just as South Africa needed consolidation.
The double strike triggered another lapse in judgement. Wiaan Mulder (13) attempted to go inside-out over extra cover against Kuldeep, only to spoon another catch to Jaiswal. South Africa, once 166 for two, slipped to 201 for five.
Also read: Ind vs SA: South Africa reach 82/1 at tea break
Late in the day, Siraj produced the ball of the session. Tony de Zorzi, on 28, was drawn forward by a delivery that straightened just enough to kiss the edge, with Rishabh Pant diving to his right for a sharp take. De Zorzi’s dismissal summed up South Africa’s story, batters getting set but failing to convert.
Aiden Markram (38 off 81) endured a searching opening spell from Bumrah, beaten repeatedly on both edges. But on the stroke of tea, he chased a fuller and wider delivery in a moment of needless ambition. Two balls after the interval, Kuldeep trapped Ryan Rickleton (35) with a drifting ball that turned late and took the outside edge.
Pant’s captaincy stood out for his sharp bowling changes, ensuring every bowler received sustained opportunities to chip away. Even with the older ball, Bumrah extracted movement, while Siraj’s bouncers unsettled the middle order. The surface remained firm through the day, offering occasional deviation but no demons, leaving the Proteas to rue their missed opportunities after solid starts that fizzled out.
Scoreboard
South Africa (1st innings): Aiden Markram b Bumrah 38 Ryan Rickelton c Pant b Kuldeep 35 Tristan Stubbs c Rahul b Kuldeep 49 Temba Bavuma c Jaiswal b Jadeja 41 Tony de Zorzi c Pant b Siraj 28 Wiaan Mulder c Jaiswal b Kuldeep 13 Senuran Muthusamy not out 25 Kyle Verreynne not out 1.
Extras: 17 (b-8, lb-6, nb-2)
Total: 247/6 in 81.5 overs
Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-82, 3-166, 4-187, 5-201, 6-246
Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 17-6-38-1, Mohammed Siraj 17.5-3-59-1, Nitish Kumar Reddy 4-0-21-0, Washington Sundar 14-3-36-0, Kuldeep Yadav 17-3-48-3, Ravindra Jadeja 12-1-30-1.
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