India trail by 480 runs: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal provide cautious start after SA's batting masterclass

Guwahati: Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal ensured India ended the second day without any damage, reaching 9 for no loss in 6.1 overs against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Bad light once again brought an early close to play, with the hosts still trailing by 480 runs.

Earlier, South Africa amassed a formidable 489 in their first innings, powered by Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden Test century (109) and an explosive 93 from Marco Jansen. The pair’s career-best performances put the visitors in a commanding position and strengthened their bid to earn at least a draw from the match.

India’s response began cautiously, with Rahul and Jaiswal negotiating the new ball steadily. Their first boundary came when Jansen strayed down the leg side and Jaiswal flicked him to square leg. With Jansen and Wiaan Mulder maintaining a disciplined line, the Indian openers remained watchful until stumps. With three days left, India faces enormous pressure to level the series and avoid a second home series defeat in two years.

Earlier in the day, Muthusamy displayed the composure seen in previous overseas tours at Rawalpindi and Chattogram, compiling a century punctuated by 10 fours and two sixes. Jansen complemented him with a dazzling 93, using his reach to strike six fours and seven towering sixes that propelled South Africa into a position of dominance.

For India, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 4 for 115, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja claimed two wickets each. Simon Harmer was the lone South African batter who failed to reach double figures in an otherwise commanding batting display.

In the final session, Siraj provided India with a much-needed breakthrough when Muthusamy miscued a hook shot and was caught at fine leg for 109, ending a career-best knock that had frustrated India since his arrival at 201 for five. Jansen then took charge, slamming two sixes off Jadeja and another four and six off Siraj to take South Africa past 440 before Bumrah disturbed Simon Harmer’s off-stump.

Jansen continued to find boundaries and shared an 18-run last-wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj before falling seven runs short of his maiden Test hundred, chopping on to a Kuldeep googly for 93. His effort, featuring seven sixes, equalled the joint-highest tally by a lower-order batter in a Test innings in India. South Africa’s total of 489 was higher than any previous first-innings score made by a visiting side that went on to lose a Test in India, leaving them firmly placed to chase a rare series win on Indian soil.

Brief Scores: South Africa 489 in 151.1 overs (Senuran Muthusamy 109, Marco Jansen 93; Kuldeep Yadav 4-115, Jasprit Bumrah 2-75) lead India 9/0 in 6.1 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 7*, KL Rahul 2*) by 480 runs.

With inputs from IANS