• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Kuldeep Yadav Keeps Sa At Bay Despite Big Partnerships On Day 1 Of Guwahati Test

Kuldeep Yadav keeps SA at bay despite big partnerships on Day 1 of Guwahati Test

Harsh Adwani

Kuldeep Yadav keeps South Africa at bay on Day 1 of 2nd Test [Source: @BCCI/x.com]Kuldeep Yadav keeps South Africa at bay on Day 1 of 2nd Test [Source: @BCCI/x.com]

Unlike the Kolkata Test, the second Test of the series between India and South Africa in Guwahati offered a lot more runs on Day 1. The wicket had little coverage of grass, which helped the Indian pacers get some swing early on in the first innings after being asked to bowl first.

The Proteas batters had to tackle the early swing for the first hour, which they did really well. Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton were patient to begin with and kept the runs flowing and made the most of the dropped catch of Markram in the 7th over of the day.

Their 82-run partnership gave them a solid start and looked threatening until Jasprit Bumrah finally got the breakthrough just at the brink of the tea break. He bowled a fuller delivery that  moved back in slightly and took Markram’s inside edge before rattling the stumps. Rickelton’s wicket followed immediately after tea, and Kuldeep Yadav had his first wicket of the match.

India does not allow South Africa to completely settle in

The visitors had some important partnerships in the middle, but India always bounced back and did not allow too much damage to be inflicted. Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs, batting at number three in this match, troubled India to some extent. They absorbed the pressure of back-to-back wickets and played with discipline. Both missed out on their well-deserved fifties, scoring 41 and 49 runs, respectively.

They put on 84 runs in their partnership for the third wicket but were undone by the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Yadav. The latter continued his dominance and took yet another wicket to complete three wickets on Day 1. He certainly was the pick of the Indian bowlers, as he returned the figures of 48/3 in 17 overs.

The first hour of Day 2 will be crucial for both teams

South Africa ended the day on 247/6, and the contest looks evenly poised at the moment. Now, the first hour of Day 2 will be crucial for both sides. The Indian pacers will look to get some early wickets, and the wicket will assist them just like Day 1.

South Africa, on the other hand, would not want to give away any wickets because Senuran Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne are the last of the recognised batters.

The wicket showed some glimpses of turn on Day 1, and that will only get more prominent as the day goes on, making spinners more active. Day 2 of the 2nd Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati will get underway on Sunday, November 23rd, at 9 a.m. (IST).