South Africa’s pace bowler Marco Jansen said his bouncer plan worked wonders on Monday. His figures of 6-48 put the visitors in sight of a historic Test series win.
The 2.03 m left-arm quick helped bundle out India for 201. South Africa had scored 489 on day three in Guwahati. South Africa won the first Test in the two-match series in Kolkata. They now close in on their first series win in India since 2000. Hansie Cronje’s team achieved that last triumph.
South African spinners dismissed India’s top three batsmen first. Jansen then took charge with key wickets using the bouncer. India collapsed to 122-7. “We just said we’re going to try it,” Jansen told reporters. “The ball wasn’t nipping as much like in Kolkata. The ball wasn’t squatting as much either. We had to figure out a plan.” Jansen explained his breakthrough moment.
“When I got my first wicket with a bouncer we said, okay cool. Let’s see how long this will work. It just came off.” Jansen claimed his fourth five-wicket haul across 21 Tests. “It’s a good wicket with good pace and bounce,” he said. “Play the short ball well and you’ll score runs. Bowl well and you’ll get wickets.” Jansen dismissed Dhruv Jurel with a bouncer. Jurel fell to a pull shot for an 11-ball duck. Jansen then bowled a rising delivery to Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy attempted to fend it away. Aiden Markram took a stunning diving catch at second slip.
India’s Ravindra Jadeja walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the third day of the second Test cricket match between India and South Africa. Photo: Biju BORO / AFP) Credit: AFP
Ravindra Jadeja fell to another Jansen bumper. India slumped further as the lanky quick wrapped up their innings in 83.5 overs. Jansen played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. He said this performance marked his coming of age on Indian pitches. “I’ve always struggled bowling in India,” Jansen said with a grin. “Whether it was white ball or red ball cricket.” “I’m still jealous of bowlers who get the ball to squat and nip back,” he added. “Shorter bowlers than me like KG do it well.” He referred to Kagiso Rabada.
“Today was one of those days I got pace and bounce from the wicket. Everything clicked and worked. As a player, you take those days and run with them.” Jansen stepped up as the team’s pace spearhead. Rabada missed both matches due to a rib injury before the opener. “Not having KG there definitely adds responsibility and pressure,” he said. “But we know we have the bowlers. We have the players in the squad to help the team win.”
At the time of publishing South Africa were in the field to bat and leading 395 runs. Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi were at the crease. The Proteas had made 170/3 in 40 overs of their second innings.
