Marco Jansen led South Africa’s impressive performance with six wickets, putting them on the verge of a historic Test series victory in India after 25 years. In the second match held in Guwahati, India struggled to post a competitive total, bowled out for 201 in response to South Africa’s first innings score of 489.
Despite being 288 runs behind, South Africa opted not to enforce the follow-on but instead began their second innings, showcasing their dominance in this two-match series. Following their victory in the first Test in Kolkata, South Africa is on track to secure a series win in India for the first time since 2000. The pressure is mounting on India, which suffered its fourth defeat in six Tests at home in the opening match of the series.
At stumps on day three, South Africa had extended their lead to 314 runs, concluding their innings at 26-0. Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram were at the crease when play was halted due to bad light. Jansen achieved his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, concluding with impressive figures of 6-48 after dismantling the Indian batting lineup during a tense final session.
Jansen expressed satisfaction with his performance and praised the spinners for their effective contributions in controlling the game when conditions were not favoring pace. He acknowledged that the team played well collectively, contributing to a strong position in the match.
India’s batting woes were evident as they collapsed to 122-7, despite a resilient 58 from Yashasvi Jaiswal. Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav tried to revive the innings with a 72-run partnership, but their efforts were ultimately thwarted. Sundar scored 48 runs before Simon Harmer’s off-spin ended his resistance, followed shortly by Jansen dismissing Kuldeep for 19.
Reflecting on the match, Sundar commented on the difficulties of batting during the day. He highlighted the quality of the pitch, noting that runs were available for those who could settle in. The Indian batsmen faced stiff challenges, particularly from the tall and formidable Jansen, who had previously shown his batting prowess by scoring 93 runs in South Africa’s first innings.
Jaiswal started strong, getting his 13th Test half-century before losing his overnight partner KL Rahul early. He employed aggressive shots, including seven fours and a six, before falling to Harmer. South Africa continued to apply pressure, with Jansen taking crucial wickets that left India reeling, including the dismissal of skipper Rishabh Pant for just seven runs.
In a striking display of athleticism, Aiden Markram’s stunning catch from second slip demonstrated South Africa’s confidence and momentum. With the Indian batting lineup faltering, the hosts faced an uphill battle to recover in the ongoing Test.