Ravindra Jadeja traps Aiden Markram for third time in Tests
What's the story
Star Indian left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja produced an unplayable delivery to dismiss opener Aiden Markram in the ongoing second and final Test match against South Africa. The incident took place on Day 4 of the match at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Jadeja's brilliant bowling helped India take their second wicket of South Africa's second innings, leaving them at 74/2. Meanwhile, the spinner has now trapped Markram thrice across four Test meetings in Test cricket.
Bowling brilliance
Jadeja's delivery outsmarts Markram
Jadeja's wicket of Markram came on the first ball of the 29th over. The veteran bowler pitched a full delivery on middle, which turned sharply away from the batter. Despite his patient innings of 29 runs off 84 balls, Markram was unable to defend against Jadeja's brilliant delivery that clipped the top of his off stump. Earlier in the innings, Jadeja had also trapped Markram's opening partner Ryan Rickelton for 35.
Rivalry
Markram averages 8.33 against Jadeja
As per ESPNcricinfo, Jadeja has now trapped Markram thrice across four innings in Test cricket. Markram has only managed 25 runs off 55 balls in this regard with his average being a paltry 8.33. Two of these dismissals came in the ongoing series. Meanwhile, the SA opener has been guilty of throwing away starts in the ongoing series with his scores reading 29, 38, 31, and 4.
Milestone
50 Test wickets against SA
With the wicket of Markram, Jadeja became the fifth Indian to complete 50 Test wickets against South Africa. Playing his 11th Test against SA, Jadeja averages a fine 19-plus. This includes three fifers with the best of 6/138. Anil Kumble (84), Javagal Srinath (64), Harbhajan Singh (60), and Ravichandran Ashwin (57) are the other Indian bowlers with 50-plus Test scalps against the Proteas. However, none of these bowlers boasts a sub-20 average in this regard.
Match details
SA are still on top
Despite Jadeja's brilliance against the SA openers, the visitors are way ahead in the contest. India could only manage 201/10 while responding to SA's first innings score of 489/10. SA's second innings also started well with openers Rickelton and Markram adding 59 runs before falling to Jadeja. Temba Bavuma's men, who are 1-0 up in the series, are on course to script a historic whitewash.