Marco Jansen produced a match-defining performance with both bat and ball as South Africa tightened their grip on the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Monday.
After scoring a superb 93 in the first innings, the left-arm pacer returned to claim outstanding figures of 6 for 48, bundling India out for 201 in reply to South Africa’s massive 489. His short-pitch barrage and sharp variations exposed India’s fragile middle order on a surface offering minimal assistance.
Jansen finished with figures of 19.5 overs, 5 maidens, 48 runs, 6 wickets, claiming his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests and becoming only the third left-arm fast bowler after Zaheer Khan and Mitchell Johnson to achieve the feat in India.
India Collapse After Bright Start
Resuming on 9/0, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul began cautiously but failed to convert their start. Rahul was caught by Aiden Markram off Keshav Maharaj, triggering a collapse. India slumped to 122/7 as Jansen, along with spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, ripped through the middle order.
Jaiswal top-scored with 58, while Washington Sundar (48) and Kuldeep Yadav (19) offered late resistance.
Sundar and Kuldeep’s Defiant Stand
Coming in at No. 8, Sundar and Kuldeep showed composure and discipline, adding 72 vital runs off 208 balls for the eighth wicket.
Sundar played some fluent strokes to find his rhythm, including a six off Harmer, before being dismissed for 48, caught at first slip after being deceived by drift and dip.
Jansen then returned with the second new ball to dismiss Kuldeep, who edged a sharply rising delivery to second slip, giving Markram his fifth catch of the innings. India were bowled out just after crossing the 200-run mark.
South Africa Extend Their First-Innings Dominance
South Africa took a massive 288-run lead after India’s collapse and chose not to enforce the follow-on. By stumps, they had reached 26 for no loss, extending their overall lead to 314 runs before bad light ended play early. Openers Ryan Rickelton (13)* and Aiden Markram (12)* looked solid and confident, seeing off a probing spell from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Jansen on the Game Plan
Jansen credited South Africa’s approach to exploiting the conditions smartly.
Once we saw there was pace and bounce, we tried to use it. The spinners did a really good job when the ball wasn’t moving much. I still think it’s a good wicket and the spinners will play a bigger role as it goes on.
India Under Pressure, But Hope Remains
Washington Sundar remained cautiously optimistic despite the dire situation.
You have to stay positive. You never know what will happen. Execution didn’t go the way we wanted, but we still believe.
Sundar also brushed aside questions about his batting position shift from No. 3 in the previous Test to No. 7, saying he was happy to bat wherever the team required.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 489 & 26/0 (8 overs) (Rickelton 13*, Markram 12*) India: 201 all out (83.5 overs) (Jaiswal 58, Sundar 48; Jansen 6/48, Harmer 3/64) South Africa lead by 314 runs.
