Ravindra Jadeja spins a web around South Africa’s batters to bag a brilliant four-wicket burst, reducing the Proteas to 93-7 — a lead of 63 runs — in their second innings and give India a strong grip over the first Test in Kolkata
India’s Ravindra Jadeja (centre) celebrates with teammates after dismissing SA opener Aiden Markram on Saturday. Pics/PTI. BCCI
A second three-day finish in an already short home Test season looms at Eden Gardens after a frenetic Saturday witnessed the fall of 15 wickets.
The whirlwind developments on Day Two of the first Test have left South Africa 63 ahead with three second-innings wickets standing, suggesting that India have their noses in front. Having said that, a fourth-innings chase on a rapidly deteriorating surface will be anything but straightforward.
Batters lose grip
Starting the second morning on 37-1 in response to the visitors’s modest 159, India could only muster 189 after having looked good for more at various stages. KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, the overnight pair, used application and grim determination as their calling cards during an alliance of 57, while Rishabh Pant batted like only he can, with daredevilry and adventurism.
SA’s Simon Harmer during his 4-30
Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel too got off to starts, but with the track throwing up numerous tricks, it was the kind of pitch where no batter ever felt ‘in’. Simon Harmer, the experienced off-spinner, exploited the conditions to the hilt and Marco Jansen, the strapping paceman, cleaned up the tail to ensure that India’s lead, whilst handy, didn’t become decisive.
Around the fall of wickets, India were dealt an unkind cut when skipper Shubman Gill was compelled to retire hurt with neck spasms after facing just three balls. Gill woke up with a stiff neck, still walked out to bat in the first over of the second hour after Harmer produced the breakthrough, having Washington cut at slip with a ripping turner. The captain slog-swept his third ball for four, then immediately clutched his neck, in obvious discomfort. After cursory treatment, he trudged off and didn’t return for the rest of the day. In the evening, he was taken to hospital for scans; it remains to be seen if he bats — should he be required to — in India’s second innings.
Harmer’s unchanged spell of 14.2-3-30-4 meant India’s spinners had to reply in kind to keep South Africa’s lead to manageable proportions. One would have expected Pant, deputising for Gill, to throw Jadeja, adept at exploiting a worn track, the new ball, but the left-arm spinner wasn’t pressed into service until the ninth over, by which time Kuldeep Yadav had trapped Ryan Rickelton palpably in front.
Jadeja immediately got down to business, accounting for Aiden Markram with his second delivery, then striking twice in his fifth over to dismiss Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi. He completed a dream spell of 12-3-27-4 with a beauty that spun across a totally flummoxed Tristan Stubbs to strike his off pole, a peach that put the up-and-down nature of the track in true perspective.
Bavuma stands firm
Despite balls either shooting through or climbing alarmingly from the same spot and turning viciously, Temba Bavuma carefully negotiated 78 deliveries for his unbeaten 29, which has kept South Africa afloat, if only just. How many more the Proteas add on Sunday will depend primarily on how much longer the captain bats, and how much luck goes the way of those around Bavuma who will chance their hands in a desperate bid to bolster their lead when they resume on 93-7.
Four
Ravindra Jadeja becomes the fourth player to score over 4000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in Tests
Brief scores
SA 159 & 93-7 (T Bavuma 29*; R Jadeja 4-29, K Yadav 2-12) vs India 189 (KL Rahul 39; S Harmer 4-30, M Jansen 3-35)
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