At the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, South Africa has established a crucial 63-run lead over India by the close of play on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match. For the second consecutive day, bad light forced an early end to proceedings, with only 77 overs bowled and 13 overs remaining in the day's scheduled play. By stumps, South Africa had scored 93 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their second innings. Captain Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten on 29 runs, while Corbin Bosch was at the crease with 1 run, attempting to steer their team out of a precarious situation.
Indian spin bowlers delivered a stellar performance on the second day, Importantly troubling the South African batsmen. Ravindra Jadeja, with his masterful left-arm spin, claimed 4 vital wickets, causing a significant collapse in South Africa's batting lineup. Kuldeep Yadav provided excellent support, picking up 2 wickets, while Axar Patel secured one crucial dismissal. For Jadeja, it was a personally memorable day as he completed 250 Test wickets on Indian soil, a testament to his consistent performance and skill. His exceptional bowling display has provided the Indian team with a strong opportunity to bounce back into the contest.
India's First Innings Struggle
Earlier in the day, the Indian team was bowled out for 189 runs in their first innings, having lost 9 wickets. Captain Shubman Gill had to retire hurt in the first session due to a neck cramp after scoring 4 runs and didn't return to bat. Consequently, India's innings concluded after the fall of the ninth wicket. India managed to secure a slender lead of 30 runs against South Africa's first. Innings total of 159, a lead that could prove significant in this low-scoring encounter.
Key Contributions from Rahul and Sundar
In India's first innings, KL Rahul was the top scorer with 39 runs, while Washington Sundar contributed a valuable 29 runs, while these two batsmen forged a half-century partnership for the second wicket, attempting to stabilize the innings after early setbacks. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with 27 runs each, while Axar Patel and Dhruv Jurel scored 14 runs apiece. Yashasvi Jaiswal added 12 runs. However, no batsman was able to convert their starts into. A substantial score, preventing the team from reaching a larger total.
South African Bowlers Impress
South African bowlers maintained consistent pressure on the Indian batsmen throughout the innings. Simon Harmer, with his off-spin, dismantled the Indian batting order, claiming 4 wickets. Marco Jansen also bowled impressively, securing 3 wickets, including some crucial dismissals. Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch each picked up one wicket, contributing to restricting the Indian team to a modest total. Their disciplined bowling ensured that India couldn't build a significant first-innings lead.
Early Stumps Due to Bad Light
The early cessation of play due to bad light at Eden Gardens allowed both teams to reassess their strategies, while by the end of the day's play, South Africa had lost 7 wickets, including that of Marco Jansen, who was caught by KL Rahul off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav. Jansen was dismissed after scoring 13 runs, marking the seventh wicket to fall in South Africa's second innings. This dismissal further strengthened India's position in the match, giving them a psychological edge.
Outlook for Day 3
As the match heads into Day 3, the Indian team possesses a golden opportunity to secure a victory. South Africa has only three wickets remaining, and their lead stands at 63 runs. Given the performance of the Indian spinners, it's anticipated that they will aim to wrap up the remaining wickets swiftly in the morning session of Day 3. India's objective will be to dismiss South Africa's innings as quickly as possible and chase down a manageable target to win the match. It will be intriguing to see how Captain Bavuma and Corbin Bosch manage to extend their team's lead and if they can set a challenging target for India.
