Marco Jansen’s six-wicket haul vs India creates history! Becomes first South Africa cricketer to clinch t
Marco Jansen’s all-round brilliance played a huge role in South Africa taking the upper hand in the 2nd Test. (Agencies) Marco Jansen delivered a performance to remember in Guwahati, carving his name into South African cricket’s Test records with a landmark all-round display against India. The 25-year-old became the first South African to score a half-century and take a six-wicket haul in the same Test on Indian soil, driving his team into complete control by the third day. South Africa’s first innings had already put the hosts under pressure after they posted 489, built on Jansen’s fluent 93 from 91 balls on Sunday. His innings ensured the visitors carried a sizeable lead into the bowling phase, and by Monday, he took full command again, and this time with the ball.
India fans in Guwahati are behind the hosts, expect a fightback on Day 3
Jansen struck early in the morning session by removing Dhruv Jurel, a dismissal that set the tone for India’s collapse. Through the afternoon, he added the wickets of Rishabh Pant (7), Nitish Kumar Reddy (10) and Ravindra Jadeja (6), tightening South Africa’s hold as India slipped further behind. He completed his five-wicket haul when Kuldeep Yadav edged to Aiden Markram in the third session, after a defiant 19 off 134 balls. His sixth arrived soon after, with Jasprit Bumrah caught behind for 5, sealing figures of 6/48 from 19.5 overs. His return sits among the best by a South African quick in India – only Lance Klusener (8/64 in 1996) and Dale Steyn (7/51 in 2010) have produced better numbers. Among visiting left-arm pacers, his 6/48 is now the fourth-best effort in Tests played in India, and all five of the top performances belong to overseas bowlers. Jansen also joined a select group of players to score 50-plus and take a five-fer in a Test in India this century. Only Nicky Boje in Bengaluru (2000) and Jason Holder in Hyderabad (2008) had achieved the double before him.
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Should South Africa have enforced the follow-on after India’s collapse?
His five-wicket haul also made him just the third left-arm quick since 1988 to take a Test five-fer in India, following Zaheer Khan and Mitchell Johnson. After India folded for 201, with Bumrah the final wicket to fall, South Africa held a massive advantage. Despite the option to enforce the follow-on, Temba Bavuma chose to bat again after discussions with teammates and the head coach, as the Proteas look to put the game out of reach for Team India with finality.
