South Africa declared their innings and set a mammoth target of 549 on Tuesday. India tottered at 27-2 at the end of day 4. South Africa stand on the brink of a series win in the second Test. South Africa declared on 260-5 in the final session on day four in Guwahati. T
Tristan Stubbs made 94 before falling. World Test champions South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0. Even a draw would seal their first series victory in India since 2000. India suffered their fourth defeat in six home Tests in the Kolkata opener. The hosts need to bat for three more sessions to avoid another loss. Sai Sudharsan (2) and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (4) battled for survival.
Left-arm quick Jansen took his match tally to seven wickets after figures of 6-48 in India’s first innings. Photo: Biju BORO / AFP
Bad light ended play in the northeastern city. South Africa pace spearhead Marco Jansen dismissed left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jansen bowled a short delivery outside the off stump. Jaiswal was caught behind for 13. Left-arm quick Jansen took his match tally to seven wickets. He claimed figures of 6-48 in India’s first innings. Off-spinner Simon Harmer bowled KL Rahul, the other opener, for six. South Africa need eight more wickets to make it 2-0. India need to bat out day five to salvage a draw.
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The Proteas performed much better with the bat. Stubbs was the last man out when left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bowled him. Jadeja took 4-62. Wiaan Mulder remained unbeaten on 35. Stubbs put on 101 runs for the fourth wicket with Tony de Zorzi. De Zorzi was on 49 when Jadeja broke through. Jadeja had de Zorzi lbw to deny the batsman his fifty. Stubbs stood firm to frustrate the Indian bowlers.
He batted for 180 balls with nine fours and a six. South Africa resumed on 26-0 after bundling out India for 201 on day three. They led by 288 on the first innings. They did not enforce the follow-on. South Africa decided to bat again to pile misery on the hosts. Left-handed opener Ryan Rickelton hit three fours in the first session. He fell to Jadeja while attempting another hit over cover. Jadeja caught him for 35. Jadeja bowled the other overnight batter, Aiden Markram, for 29. Fellow spinner Washington Sundar dismissed skipper Temba Bavuma for three.
The Indian fielders looked tired during South Africa’s innings. The innings lasted for 78.3 overs. Disappointed home fans at a largely empty stadium waited for the agony to end.
