A day of attritional batting, led by Tristan Stubbs’ 94 off 180 balls, helped South Africa set a mammoth target of 549 on Day 4 of the second Test against India in Guwahati. The visitors didn’t appear in any hurry with their batting approach as they patiently extended the lead past 500 and deflated India, before declaring late in the final session. After South Africa finished with 260/5 in their second essay, India lost their openers early and went into Stumps at 27/2, needing 522 on the last day to avoid a 0-2 series loss.
Resuming at 26/0, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram continued their steady partnership, extending it past 50. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar were used early on but none managed to break through, even though Rickelton was looking scratchy. The left-hander’s outing eventually ended on 35 when he got a leading edge off Ravindra Jadeja. Tristan Stubbs joined Markram and a watchful association ensued, one that lasted for nearly 10 overs for only 15 runs, before Jadeja struck again. The left-arm spinner found grip and turn as he had Markram bowled for 29 off 84.
South Africa slipped to 77/3 when Temba Bavuma fell cheaply, gloving a Washington delivery to leg slip. Washington could have also picked up the wicket of Stubbs but for a missed stumping chance. It was slow going for South Africa before Tony de Zorzi upped the ante. He started with a six off Washington and collected a few boundaries along with Stubbs as South Africa moved to 107/3 at Tea, with 81 runs coming in the session off 32 overs.
The lead crossed 400 early in the second session, with de Zorzi and Stubbs putting together a solid partnership. The South African batters, however, showed no urgency, seemingly content to bat time and wait for the surface to wear further. There was still no declaration even after the lead went past 450, and India also burned a review when Kuldeep thought he had trapped Stubbs in front.
The fourth wicket stand went past 100 before Jadeja bagged another wicket, ending de Zorzi’s innings one short of fifty – getting him lbw after the batter missed a sweep – with South Africa also losing a review. Wiaan Mulder then took over the boundary-hitting responsibility even as Stubbs brought up a patient half-century, getting there in 129 deliveries. The lead went past 500 when Mulder got his fifth four. Both Stubbs and Mulder were unbeaten at Lunch, having added 42, as South Africa went into the break at 220/4, leading by 508.
Stubbs struck a flurry of boundaries at the start of the third session, most of them off Nitish Reddy, to enter the 80s as South Africa went past 250. Stubbs moved into the 90s with a six off Jadeja but fell four short of the three-figure mark as he was bowled attempting a slog-sweep, giving the spinner his fourth wicket. A declaration from South Africa followed immediately, leaving India with a monumental task as they were chasing a 500-plus target only for the second time in a home Test – 543 set by Australia in Nagpur in 2004 was the previous occasion.
Marco Jansen set the tone with the ball as he troubled Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening over with short-pitched deliveries, and almost picked up a wicket as well but Markram couldn’t hold on to a tough chance at second slip. Jaiswal got his first runs by flicking Jansen for a four in his next over and even took on his short deliveries, upper-cutting one for a six. KL Rahul, meanwhile, was watchful at the other end and took 13 deliveries to get off the mark.
The cut shot, however, brought about the downfall of Jaiswal as he got out for 13 attempting one off Jansen, getting caught behind. The troubles compounded for India as Rahul fell soon after, getting bowled in Simon Harmer’s first over. Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav saw India through to stumps, with the hosts in deep trouble and staring at a series sweep by South Africa.
