2ND TEST— INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA: Kuldeep picks 3, India keep South Africa to 247/6
Guwahati, Nov 22: Kuldeep Yadav’s three‑wicket haul became the standout bowling effort on the opening day of the first‑ever Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, as a persistent India restricted South Africa to 247/6 in 81.5 overs before bad light forced stumps to arrive early on day one.
The left‑arm wrist-spinner returned figures of 3-48, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja took a wicket each as India got rewarded for their persistence by picking four wickets in the final session. On a good red soil batting pitch, all South African batters got good starts, but none went on to a half‑century.
Each time the batters looked to accelerate, India were sharp enough to seize the opportunity and pick scalps, thus ensuring the visitors never fully ran away with opening day honours. With South Africa now into their lower order, India will aim to wrap up the innings quickly on Day Two.
In the morning, after electing to bat first, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton ensured South Africa had a steady start against new ball bowlers Bumrah and Siraj. The duo got decent carry and swing, though two sets of byes went against wicketkeeper and skipper Rishabh Pant’s name.
Though the atmosphere was subdued at India’s newest Test venue due to sparse attendance, which was in complete contrast to the well‑attended Eden Gardens Test last week, Bumrah and Siraj continued to keep the openers in check. Markram finally opened his account with a solid punch off Bumrah for four, before surviving a scare on four when Rahul dropped his catch at slip.
With Siraj bowling touch too full and wide, Markram and Rickelton scored a few boundaries off him, as South Africa reached 34/0 at the first drinks break. Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled for consistency -- drifting onto the pads too often and conceding boundaries to Markram, while Kuldeep and Washington Sundar found some turn and bounce, though Rickelton got streaky boundaries off them.
Captain Pant’s decision to bring Bumrah late in the session to deliver the breakthrough paid off when he had Markram chopping on to his stumps for 38, and Rahul, who had earlier spilt a chance of him, had a smile full of relief on his face as India finally had a wicket before tea break.
The second session began with a bang for India as Yadav got a flighted delivery to drift in before spinning away, and the outside edge on Rickelton’s attempted drive was safely pouched by Pant, as South Africa suddenly lost both of their set batters in quick succession.
