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Day three of the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati proved catastrophic for the Indian team, as a stellar all-round performance from Marco Jansen propelled South Africa into an unassailable position.
The Proteas, having established a commanding 288-run first-innings lead, ended the day leading by a massive 314 runs, with all ten Indian wickets falling for just 201 runs.
India’s Collapse Under Pressure 📉
India began the day hoping to eat into South Africa’s significant lead, but the effort soon unravelled under relentless pressure.
- Steady Start: Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul started watchfully, successfully navigating the first hour to raise a 65-run opening stand. Jaiswal was the more aggressive, bringing up his half-century (58) before being dismissed shortly after.
- The Unraveling: The middle order crumbled rapidly in the session leading up to the second break. From 65/0, India slumped dramatically to 122/7. Key wickets fell cheaply, including those of Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, captain Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.
- Jansen & Harmer Destroy: The damage was split between the pace and spin. Marco Jansen, fresh off his 93 with the bat, utilized the pitch’s bounce to claim a devastating 6 wickets for 48 runs—a historic all-round performance on Indian soil. He was ably supported by off-spinner Simon Harmer, who claimed 3 wickets for 64 runs.
Resistance and Final Stand
Amidst the collapse, two lower-order left-handers provided a stubborn resistance that slowed South Africa’s march.
- The Gritty Partnership: Washington Sundar (48 off 92) and Kuldeep Yadav (19 off 134 balls) dug in, stitching together a crucial 72-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Kuldeep’s defiant innings marked the highest number of balls faced by an Indian batter in the entire series, highlighting the main batsmen’s struggles.
- Final Blow: Their defense ended when Harmer eventually drew an edge from Sundar, two runs shy of his fifty. Jansen returned with the new ball to dismiss Kuldeep and Jasprit Bumrah, wrapping up India’s innings at 201.
South Africa’s Command
Holding a first-innings lead of 288 runs, captain Temba Bavuma opted against enforcing the follow-on. South Africa’s openers, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram, batted safely through eight tricky overs before bad light ended the day, extending their total lead to 314 runs.
The Proteas are now in a commanding position to push for a series-clinching victory on Day 4.
Image Credits : CricBuzz
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