The second Test match between India and South Africa in Guwahati has reached a critical juncture, with South Africa establishing a significant lead of over 300 runs against India by the end of the third day's play. In this crucial encounter, South African fast bowler Marco Jansen has etched his name in history with a spectacular performance, leaving the host team India in a precarious position.
India's First Innings Collapse
On the third day of the match, India's first innings concluded prematurely, collapsing for a mere 201 runs, a significant setback for the team, while the Indian batting lineup struggled immensely against the relentless South African bowling attack. Only young opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal managed to score a half-century, providing a brief glimmer of hope. Jaiswal played a resilient knock of 58 runs, which included 7 boundaries and a solitary six, attempting to stabilize the Indian innings amidst a flurry of wickets. Washington Sundar also made a valuable contribution, scoring 48 runs and narrowly missing out on his half-century by just two runs, while however, apart from these two performances, no other Indian batsman could build a substantial innings, preventing the team from reaching a competitive total.
South African fast bowler Marco Jansen played a pivotal role in. Dismantling the Indian batting lineup, single-handedly restricting them to 201 runs. Jansen's accurate and lethal bowling troubled the Indian batsmen throughout his spell. He accounted for more than half of India's team, sending six key. Batsmen back to the pavilion, marking a memorable performance in his career. Jansen finished with impressive figures of 6 wickets for just 48 runs in 19. 5 overs. His exceptional bowling was instrumental in securing a substantial first-innings lead for South Africa.
A Decade-Long Wait for South African Pacers
With his outstanding bowling performance, Marco Jansen has achieved a remarkable feat on Indian soil. He has become only the fourth South African fast bowler to take 5 or more wickets in a Test match in India. This achievement is particularly significant as it marks the first time in 10 years that a South African fast bowler has managed to claim a five-wicket haul in a Test in India. Previously, Lance Klusener achieved this in 1996, Dale Steyn in 2008 and 2010, and Kyle Abbott in 2015. Jansen's name now joins this esteemed list of legends, underscoring his talent and potential.
A 46-Year Left-Arm Fast Bowling Feat
Marco Jansen's performance extends beyond just South African fast bowlers; he has also secured another rare record. Remarkably, Marco Jansen is only the fourth left-arm fast bowler in the world to take 5 or more wickets in a Test match on Indian soil. This is a truly extraordinary feat, one that has not been witnessed in 46 years. The last time such a performance occurred was in 1979 when Australia's Geoff Dymock took 7 wickets in the Kanpur Test. Before him, England's John Lever claimed 7 wickets in 1976, and Australia's Alan Davidson achieved the same with 7 wickets in 1959. Jansen's performance earns him a special place in the annals of cricket history.
Modern Left-Arm Pacers in India
Adding to his historic achievement, Marco Jansen has also become the third left-arm fast bowler since 1988 to take five wickets in a Test in India, while prior to him, Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan accomplished this feat three times, and Australia's Mitchell Johnson did so in Mohali in 2010. This highlights the immense challenge left-arm fast bowlers face in securing five-wicket hauls on Indian pitches, and Jansen has successfully overcome this hurdle with his exceptional skill.
India Faces Threat of Defeat
It's noteworthy that South Africa already holds a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. Now, India faces the looming threat of defeat in the second Test match as well. South Africa posted a formidable total of 489 runs in their first. Innings, to which the Indian team could only respond with 201 runs. By the close of play on the third day, South Africa had amassed a massive lead of 314 runs. In this challenging situation, the Indian team will need an extraordinary performance to save the match. It will be interesting to see how the Indian bowlers perform in South Africa's second innings and whether they can contain this significant lead. The Indian batsmen will also need a miraculous effort in their second innings to either save the match or push for a draw.
