Guwahati: India has slipped into a major crisis on the third day of the second Test here against world champions South Africa.
In reply to the touring team’s first-innings score of 489, the hosts lost four wickets for just 102 runs in the first two hours (till the tea break). Three more wickets fell after tea. Now only a miracle can save India from defeat in this match and the series.
At 7/123, Team India still trailed by 366 runs. To avoid the follow-on, India needs to reach a total of 290 runs — which currently looks very difficult.Also read: IND vs SA: KL Rahul To lead India In ODI Series In Shubman Gill’s Absence; Pant, Gaikwad Return
Yashasvi (58 runs), Rahul (22 runs), Sudharsan (15 runs) and wicket-throwing Dhruv Jurel (0) returned to the pavilion. At tea, acting captain Rishabh Pant (6) and Ravindra Jadeja (0) were at the crease. But after tea, Pant (7) was caught out going for a big shot.
Indian batsmen once again became victims of South Africa’s spinners and pace bowlers. After the 65-run stand between Yashasvi and Rahul was broken by Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer took two wickets in succession (Yashasvi and Sudharsan). The last four wickets — Jurel, Pant, Nitish and Jadeja — were taken by pace bowler Marco Jansen.
