Well, Day 3 of the second and final Test between India vs South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati has come to a close, and to put it mildly, it was South Africa's day through and through. The visitors are now in complete control, ending the day with a massive overall lead of 314 runs. After posting a formidable 489 in their first innings, they bundled India out for a mere 201, securing a hefty 288-run lead before deciding to bat again.
Key Highlights
- ✓ At the end of Day 3, South Africa has a commanding lead of 314 runs over India.
- ✓ All-rounder Senuran Muthusamy scored a brilliant 109, his maiden international century.
- ✓ Marco Jansen was unstoppable, scoring a quickfire 93 and then taking an incredible six wickets.
- ✓ India's first innings folded for just 201 runs in response to South Africa's huge total of 489.
- ✓ Yashasvi Jaiswal (58) and Washington Sundar (48) were the lone fighters in a disappointing batting display.
South Africa's Batting Masterclass
Let's rewind a bit to understand how South Africa built this mountain of a total. After their captain, Temba Bavuma, won the toss and smartly chose to bat first, his team put on a clinic. The standout performance came from the Indian-origin all-rounder, Senuran Muthusamy. He played a sensational knock, scoring a well-deserved 109 runs from 206 balls, an innings that included ten boundaries and two sixes. It was a massive moment for him, marking his very first century in international cricket.
But the fireworks didn't stop there. Marco Jansen came in and played a devastatingly quick innings, smashing 93 runs off just 91 balls. His knock was pure entertainment, featuring an incredible seven sixes and six fours. It completely took the game away from the Indian bowlers. It wasn't just these two; the whole batting lineup contributed, with Tristan Stubbs (49), Kyle Verreynne (45), and captain Bavuma himself (41) all chipping in with crucial runs to push the total to a massive 489.
India's Batting Stumbles and Collapses
When it was India's turn to bat, things started off reasonably well. The openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, showed some intent and built a solid partnership of 65 runs for the first wicket. Jaiswal, in particular, looked good, hitting some nice shots and bringing up his 13th Test half-century off 85 balls. He eventually fell for a well-made 58, but at that point, India was at 95/2, and things still seemed manageable.
But what followed was nothing short of a disaster. The Indian middle order just completely fell apart. From a respectable 95 for one, the team suddenly found itself struggling at 122 for seven. That's a loss of six wickets for just 27 runs. Key players like captain Rishabh Pant (7), Ravindra Jadeja (6), and Dhruv Jurel, who didn't even open his account, were dismissed in quick succession. The Proteas' bowlers, led by the brilliant Marco Jansen, were simply relentless, using short-pitched bowling to great effect.
Jansen was the chief architect of India's destruction. He trapped Pant, then sent back Nitish Kumar Reddy (10) and Jadeja with short balls. Spinner Simon Harmer also played his part perfectly, getting the crucial wickets of Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan (15). It was a period of play where India had no answers, and the South African bowlers were all over them. The solid start felt like a distant memory as the wickets tumbled one after another.
A Late Fightback Offers a Glimmer of Hope
Just when it looked like India would be bundled out for an embarrassingly low score, the lower order showed some much-needed fight. Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav came together at 122/7 and stitched together a crucial 72-run partnership for the eighth wicket. They batted with patience and determination, frustrating the South African attack for a significant period. Sundar was particularly impressive, scoring 48 runs off 92 balls, an innings that included two fours and a six.
Kuldeep also held his end, contributing a gritty 19 from 134 balls. Their partnership ensured India crossed the 200-run mark, adding some respectability to the total. However, the resistance eventually ended when Harmer dismissed Sundar. Shortly after, Jansen returned to clean up the tail, dismissing Kuldeep and Jasprit Bumrah (5) to claim his fifth and sixth wickets of the innings and end India's effort at 201.
South Africa in the Driver's Seat
With a massive first-innings lead of 288 runs, South Africa had the option to enforce the follow-on. However, Captain Temba Bavuma decided against it, choosing to give his bowlers a rest and pile on more runs to bat India completely out of the game. It’s a strategic move that puts all the pressure squarely on the home side. India, already trailing 0-1 in the series after a 30-run loss in Kolkata, desperately needs to win this match to even draw the series.
By the time stumps were called on Day 3, South Africa had already started their second innings and reached 26/0 without losing a wicket. This has pushed their overall lead to a staggering 314 runs. With two full days of play left, the Proteas are in an incredibly strong position to dictate terms. For India, the road ahead looks incredibly tough, and they will need something truly miraculous to turn this game around from here.
Conclusion
So, that's a wrap on Day 3 of the Guwahati Test. It was a day that belonged entirely to South Africa, built on the foundation of Senuran Muthusamy's maiden century and the phenomenal all-round display by Marco Jansen. India's batting collapse has left them with a mountain to climb, staring at a huge 314-run deficit. The home team is now firmly on the back foot, and saving this Test, let alone winning it to level the series, will require a Herculean effort from here on out.
