Post by : Maya Rahman

In a solid display during the first session of the second Test, South Africa reached 82 for 1 at tea on day one in Guwahati. The pivotal moment came from Jasprit Bumrah, who took out Aiden Markram with the last ball before the interval. Markram, who had made 38 runs, was bowled clean after misjudging a full delivery while attempting a hefty drive.

Prior to that significant wicket, Bumrah bowled effectively, continuously threatening both Markram and Ryan Rickleton with movement. Rickleton remained unbeaten on 35 at tea, facing challenging spells early on against Bumrah. An early chance was missed when KL Rahul dropped a catch at second slip when Markram was on just six, allowing the South African opener to form a crucial partnership.

The Guwahati pitch displayed some spin and bounce as the session progressed. Deliveries from Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar exhibited signs of turn, but overall, batters found it easier to score than expected. The moisture helped fast bowlers initially, while batters began to find their rhythm as the conditions dried.

Using the slight lateral movement effectively, Bumrah challenged the batters with sharp deliveries that made Markram uncomfortable. Eventually, he bowled a ball that straightened and defeated Markram’s defense, giving India a critical breakthrough. Mohammed Siraj similarly maintained good rhythm, constantly testing Rickleton with deliveries that pitched well and moved away.

Captain Rishabh Pant called upon Nitish Reddy just before the drinks break to vary the attack. Reddy later switched ends but was unable to exert as much pressure as Bumrah or Siraj. India adopted an 'in-out' field, with three slips, allowing the South African openers more scoring opportunities as they settled in.

Markram showcased beautiful shots, including a stunning drive through the covers off Reddy—one of the standout boundaries of the session. Rickleton capitalized on any loose deliveries from Siraj and Reddy, demonstrating a calm approach that helped South Africa recover post-wicket.

India's bowling was sharp in intervals, led by Bumrah's exceptional performance. The session underscored the impact of early chances, as Rahul’s dropped catch could have made a significant difference in terms of pressure on the South African side.

At tea, South Africa stood at 82 for 1, with Rickleton looking increasingly assured and Wiaan Mulder expected to join him in the upcoming session. India will seek to strike early wickets to regain momentum and aim to dismiss Rickleton quickly to restrain South Africa's first-innings total.

The competitive match sees robust line-ups from both teams, with India’s side consisting of KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. In contrast, South Africa’s team features Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, and Keshav Maharaj.

With plenty of cricket ahead, both teams will aim to seize control in the next session, promoting an ongoing battle on an improving pitch.

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