Guwahati: Last November, Team India had suffered a shocking 0-3 whitewash in a home Test series against New Zealand. A year later, history could be repeating itself as the Indians, once considered unbeatable in their backyard, seem to be on the verge of capitulating again – this time against South Africa.
After amassing 489 in the first innings, thanks to lower-half heroics from Senuran Muthuswamy (109) and Marco Jansen (93), the Proteas dismissed India for 201. Jansen was at it again, using his giant frame of 6-foot-8 to extract disconcerting bounce and bagging 6/48.
Having earned a 288-run lead, South African captain Temba Bavuma wasn’t sure whether to enforce the follow-on. Much to the amusement of the crowd, he ran towards the dressing room to seek his coach’s opinion and signalled to the onfield umpires from behind the boundary line that his team would bat again.
In the second innings, South Africa were 26 without loss at stumps on Day 3, with an overall lead of 314 runs. They would look to stretch the lead to 450-500 and bat India out of the game. Even if the home team improves significantly and plays out for a draw, South Africa would still win the two-Test series 1-0.
Yashasvi Jaiwal and KL Rahul got off to a steady start, putting on 65. Rahul fell for a watchful 22, but Jaiswal was looking good for a big score after completing his fifty only to be done in by India’s first-Test tormentor Simon Harmer. Sai Sudharshan crawled to 15 before becoming Harmer’s second victim.
After the first three wickets fell to spinners, Jansen got into the act and dismissed six of the last seven wickets.
From 95/1, India slid to 122/7 as Dhruv Jurel (0), skipper Rishabh Pant (7), Ravindra Jadeja (6) and Nitish Reddy (10) came and went.
It was only a stubborn eighth-wicket stand of 72 runs between Washington Sundar (48) and Kuldeep Yadav (19) which helped India reach 200. Kuldeep showed great application, and batted 134 balls – the most by any Indian batter in this series so far. A sad reflection on the current crop of Indian batters.
BRIEF SCORES
South Africa first innings: 489 (Senuran Muthuswamy 109, Marco Jansen 93, Tristan Stubbs 49, Kyle Verreynne 45; Kuldeep Yadav 4/115, Jasprit Bumrah 2/75, Ravindra Jadeja 2/94, Md Siraj 2/106).
India first innings: 201 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 58, Washington Sundar 48; Marco Jansen 6/48, Simon Harmer 3/64).
South Africa second innings: 26/0.
2nd Test to continue on Day 4.
