Guwahati Test: South Africa claim massive 314-run lead against India
What's the story
South Africa have further tightened their grip on the 2nd and final Test against India at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium. The Proteas claimed a massive 314-run lead after bowling India out for 201. The star of the show was pacer Marco Jansen, who took six wickets. SA, who earlier hammered 489, didn't enforce the follow-on and batted in the third day's final hour (26/0).
Start
Positive start from Jaiswal, Rahul
India resumed from their overnight score of 9/0. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul gave India a solid start, adding 65 runs. Jaiswal, who had been struggling for rhythm in this series, finally found his footing with a fluent innings. His 58 (97) made him the first Indian batter to score a 50-plus score in this series. Rahul also looked comfortable early on.
Information
Maiden Test fifty against SA
Jaiswal scored his first-ever half-century against South Africa in Test cricket, smashing 7 fours and a six along the way. This was Jaiswal's 13th fifty in Test cricket. Playing his 28th Test, has raced to 2,498 runs at an average of 49.96.
Struggle
Sudden turn of events
The game turned on two deliveries from Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. Maharaj's delivery, which turned and bounced, resulted in Rahul departing for 22. Jaiswal was then undone by Harmer's delivery that stopped on him. Sai Sudharsan fell to a diving catch at midwicket after attempting to pull from length against Harmer. His dismissal for 15 runs took India down to 96/3.
Collapse
India seven down in no time
Dhruv Jurel fell for an 11-ball duck before tea, thanks to a short ball from Jansen. Rishabh Pant, who came in with intent after tea, was dismissed (7) after charging at Jansen. Jansen then got Nitish Kumar Reddy (10) with a short length. Ravindra Jadeja (6) was the last wicket to fall in this disastrous collapse (122/7) as Jansen recorded his fourth scalp.
Partnership
Valuable partnership between Kuldeep, Sundar
After India were seven down, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav showed some resistance, adding 72 runs off 208 balls for the eighth wicket. They batted together for over 30 overs, taking India close to 200. While Sundar sporadically played his strokes, Kuldeep focused on blocking. However, Sundar fell to Harmer for a 92-ball 48. And Jansen ended Kuldeep's 134-ball stay (19).
Jansen
Fourth SA pacer with record six-fer
Jansen, the pick of SA's bowlers (6/48 in 19.5 overs), scripted records with a six-fer. According to Cricbuzz, he is the fourth South African pacer with a Test five-wicket haul in India, joining Lance Klusner, Dale Steyn, and Kyle Abbott. Jansen now has the third-best innings figures (6/48) for a Proteas pacer in India, behind Klusner (8/64, Kolkata, 1996) and Steyn (7/51, Nagpur, 2010).
Feats
Other feats attained by Jansen
Jansen recorded the fourth-best Test innings returns for a left-arm pacer in India. He is behind England's John Lever (7/46, Delhi, 1976), Australia's Geoff Dymock (7/67, Kanpur, 1979), and Australia's Alan Davidson (7/93, Kanpur, 1959). Jansen is just the third visiting player with a fifer and a 50-plus score in a Test in India since 2000, joining Nicky Boje (SA) and Jason Holder (WI).