Kuldeep’s triple strike gives hosts late relief and slender edge on opening day

All the South African batters got starts but none of them went on to really hurt India in the Guwahati Test

- Somshuvra Laha

On a day the Ashes opener at Perth hurtled to one of the quickest finishes in the history of the game, South Africa and India turned back the clock by playing Test cricket in as old school a manner as possible.

Facilitating this pace was a well rolled red soil pitch that had something for everyone. Seamers found movement, spinners found zip and turn, and batters could trust the bounce of the pitch and play through the line.

India lost the toss again, dropped a catch in the first hour and nearly let the innings slip out of their hands but Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood before Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets to restrict South Africa to a more reasonable 247/6 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test.

Reasonable because twice South Africa showed the gumption and application to break away with promising partnerships, first with an 82-run opening stand, followed by a 84-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs despite losing two quick wickets before and after tea.

Bumrah started the last over before tea hitting the good length spot, setting up Markram for a backfoot drive, before pushing the ball fuller by a foot or two, luring Markram into a drive without going to the pitch of it. Middle stump pegged back, India had their first breakthrough.

First over after tea, Yadav changed ends and he straightaway delivered, dismissing the well-set Ryan Rickleton. It was a looped in, classical legbreak that landed on full length outside off and spun away, getting Rickelton forward to play a drive but he got an outside edge that Pant held on to well.

Two wickets in four balls, India seemed to have suddenly got a stranglehold of the game but South Africa were also up for it, this time Bavuma and Stubbs digging their heels in to graft a solid partnership. The pair added 74 in that session even though the pitch was at its best, as India kept stringing useful spells that tied down the scoring.