South Africa moved within touching distance of their first Test series victory in India in 25 years after declaring at 260 for 5 and reducing the hosts to a precarious 27 for 2 by stumps on Day 4 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday (Nov 25), setting up a compelling final day with India requiring an improbable 522 runs to win.
Tristan Stubbs narrowly missed a maiden Test century, falling for 94 off 180 balls, as the Proteas batted for nearly five sessions across two days to establish an insurmountable lead of 548 runs before captain Temba Bavuma declared shortly after the tea interval.
The declaration left India with approximately 15 overs to survive before stumps, but the hosts’ fragile batting crumbled once again. Yashasvi Jaiswal departed for 13, caught at short leg attempting an aggressive cut shot against Keshav Maharaj, continuing his struggles against left-arm spin. Veteran opener KL Rahul followed soon after, bowled by Simon Harmer for just 6 runs as the ball turned sharply from the rough outside off stump.
With Sai Sudharsan unbeaten on 2 and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav hanging on with 4 not out, India face the daunting prospect of batting out 90 overs on the final day to salvage a draw and avoid a second consecutive home whitewash within 12 months.
South Africa resumed Day 4 at 26 without loss, holding a 314-run lead. The opening pair of Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram extended their partnership to 59 before Ravindra Jadeja struck with his trademark accuracy. The Indian spinner removed Rickelton for 35, caught at mid-off by Mohammed Siraj, and later clean bowled Markram for 29 with a classical left-arm spinner’s delivery that drifted in and turned away.
Jadeja continued his impressive work by dismissing captain Bavuma for just 3, caught at slip, before Washington Sundar trapped Tony de Zorzi lbw for 49 just as the South African southpaw was nearing his half-century. At 178 for 4, India briefly entertained hopes of restricting the visitors’ lead.
However, Stubbs anchored the innings with admirable composure, combining watchful defense with occasional boundary strokes. His 180-ball vigil included seven fours and one six as he frustrated the Indian bowlers on a pitch offering little assistance. Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne provided solid support, remaining unbeaten on 15 when Bavuma waved his batsmen in.
Jadeja emerged as India’s most successful bowler with figures of 4 for 64 from 30 overs, shouldering enormous responsibility in the absence of genuine pace threat on a placid surface. His marathon bowling spell exemplified India’s struggles, with the home team’s bowlers toiling for over 150 overs across four days.
When India’s second innings began under fading light, the pitch that had appeared benign throughout South Africa’s occupation suddenly looked treacherous. Harmer and Maharaj extracted sharp turn and bounce from the rough patches created outside both right and left-handers’ off stumps, making survival extremely difficult for the Indian batsmen.
The collapse extended India’s nightmarish home season, which has seen them lose eight of their last nine Tests on home soil following the 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand last month. The team’s transition period, compounded by injuries to key players like Shubman Gill, has exposed vulnerabilities that touring teams are ruthlessly exploiting.
South Africa’s dominance has been comprehensive across all facets. After Marco Jansen’s devastating 6 for 48 on Day 3 dismissed India for 201 in their first innings, the visitors’ batsmen have displayed superior application and technique on the same surface.
With eight wickets required on the final day and 522 runs standing between India and an improbable victory, South Africa need only maintain their discipline to secure a memorable 2-0 series triumph, their first in India since Hansie Cronje’s team achieved the feat in 2000.
DAY 4 SCORECARD – STUMPS
SOUTH AFRICA 1st Innings: 489 all out (151.1 overs)
INDIA 1st Innings: 201 all out (83.5 overs)
Trail by 288 runs
SOUTH AFRICA 2nd Innings: 260/5 declared (70.3 overs)
Ryan Rickelton 35 (87 balls, 5 fours)
Aiden Markram 29 (84 balls, 3 fours)
Temba Bavuma 3 (17 balls)
Tony de Zorzi 49 (95 balls, 4 fours)
Tristan Stubbs 94 (180 balls, 7 fours, 1 six)
Kyle Verreynne 15 not out (40 balls, 2 fours)
Wiaan Mulder 21 not out (41 balls, 3 fours)
Extras: 14
India Bowling:
Ravindra Jadeja 30-6-64-4
Washington Sundar 16-3-50-1
Jasprit Bumrah 11-3-38-0
Mohammed Siraj 7-0-38-0
Kuldeep Yadav 6.3-0-59-0
INDIA 2nd Innings: 27/2 (15.5 overs) – STUMPS
Yashasvi Jaiswal 13 (20 balls, 2 fours) – c short leg b Maharaj
KL Rahul 6 (29 balls) – b Harmer
Sai Sudharsan 2 not out (25 balls)
Kuldeep Yadav 4 not out (23 balls)
Extras: 2
South Africa Bowling:
Marco Jansen 7-3-13-0
Keshav Maharaj 5-2-9-1
Simon Harmer 3.5-1-5-1
India need 522 runs to win with 8 wickets remaining
South Africa need 8 wickets to win the match and series 2-0
Match Status: South Africa in commanding position
Series Status: South Africa lead 1-0 (won 1st Test by 30 runs in Kolkata)
