India reached 90 for 5 at tea on the final day of the second Test in Guwahati, with B Sai Sudharsan on 14 and Ravindra Jadeja on 23. They still need 459 runs for an improbable victory, as South Africa maintain complete command.
India reached 90 for 5 at tea on the final day of the second Test in Guwahati, with B Sai Sudharsan on 14 and Ravindra Jadeja on 23. They still need 459 runs for an improbable victory, as South Africa maintain complete command.
India now face the daunting task of surviving 60 overs on a turning, bouncing surface if they are to salvage a draw -- a challenge that borders on the Herculean.
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South Africa had earlier posted 489 in their first innings and declared their second innings at 260/5, while India were dismissed for 201 in their first innings.
South Africa dominated the afternoon through relentless pressure from their spinners. Simon Harmer led the charge, first bowling nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav for 5 with a straightening delivery.
He then removed Dhruv Jurel for 2 via a routine edge to slip, before getting Rishabh Pant for 13 when extra bounce forced another catch to Aiden Markram, who completed his seventh catch of the match.
Pant's brief counterattack, featuring a six and a four off Keshav Maharaj, could not shift the momentum as India continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Sudharsan survived a few anxious moments, including a sharp edge flying past slip and leg-byes off Marco Jansen, but the scoring remained slow.
India had crawled to 50 in 28.3 overs, including 11 extras, and were 58 for 4 at the drinks break. Despite a dropped chance and a wicket nullified by a no-ball, South Africa continued dictating terms through tight bowling and sharp fielding.
With Jadeja and the lower order left to confront a massive target, South Africa remain firmly on course as the match heads into the final session.