Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton for South Africa - (Source: AFP)
On Tuesday, November 25, play on Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and South Africa is underway at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The Proteas are well in command as they have a lead of over 400 runs.
In the second innings, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram set the tone with a fifty-plus opening pair. Notably, the duo had a 59-run partnership and have become the fourth South African pair to slam a fifty-plus opening stand in both innings in India.
Rickelton, Markram joins Smith, Gibbs in special list
Notably, in the first innings as well, Rickelton and Markram amassed an 82-run opening stand. Herschelle Gibbs & Gary Kirsten were the first South African pair to achieve this feat in history in 2000 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Further, before the ongoing 2nd Test, the last time a South African pair did the same was 17 years ago in 2008, when Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie added 132 runs in the first innings and 53 runs for the first wicket in the 2nd innings.
Here is the complete list
- Herschelle Gibbs & Gary Kirsten - Mumbai, 2000
- Graeme Smith & Andrew Hall - Kanpur, 2004
- Graeme Smith & Neil McKenzie - Chennai, 2008
- Aiden Markram & Ryan Rickelton - Guwahati, 2025
Talking about the ongoing match, the Proteas, as mentioned earlier, are in a commanding position and eyeing to win the series 2-0. The Temba Bavuma-led side have won the first Test in Kolkata, and in case of a win in Guwahati, the Rainbow Nation will hand India a whitewash.
At the time of writing this article, South Africa are 146/3 and lead by 434 runs.
