Kolkata, Nov 14 (UNI) South Africa’s innings imploded through the second session as India’s bowlers, led by incisive spells from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and the spinners, reduced the visitors to 154 for 8 at tea on the opening day of the first Test at Eden Gardens.
Tristan Stubbs was unbeaten on 15 at the interval, but with only the tail left, South Africa were left clinging to hope after a session in which India’s relentless pressure forced mistakes, misjudgements and poor shot selections.
India’s surge began right after lunch. South Africa, who were 105 for 3 at the interval, soon slipped when Wiaan Mulder (24) missed a reverse sweep off Kuldeep Yadav in the 29th over. The lbw was upheld, and the review – taken at the last moment – was struck down, confirming the ball would crash into middle stump.
Bumrah, operating with rhythm, then produced another decisive moment. Tony de Zorzi (24) was trapped lbw in the 32nd over by a good-length ball that stayed low and straightened enough to hit middle stump. The batsman reviewed, but ball-tracking confirmed Bumrah’s third strike of the innings.
Kyle Verreynne tried to steady matters with a few boundaries, including a drive off Siraj and edges through the cordon against Kuldeep, but the slide resumed.
In the 44th over, Siraj delivered a superb double strike. First, he removed Verreynne lbw for 16, a review again proving unsuccessful for South Africa as UltraEdge detected pad-first contact and ball-tracking showed it hitting middle stump. Three balls later, Marco Jansen (0) was bowled by a delivery that tailed in, went through the gap, and clipped the top of off-middle.
By the drinks break at 40 overs, South Africa were already 136 for 5, and the innings continued deteriorating thereafter.
The eighth wicket fell at 154 when Axar Patel trapped Corbin Bosch (3) lbw in the 52nd over. Bosch, drawn forward by a delivery that held its line, was struck in front as umpire Chris Gaffaney eventually raised the finger. With all three reviews already burnt, Bosch could not challenge the decision.
Bumrah, Siraj and the spinners maintained pressure in between the wickets. Stubbs produced a few moments of control, including a perfectly timed defensive shot for four off Bumrah, but the innings never looked stable.
With only two wickets remaining and the batting stretched thin, South Africa head into the final session hoping merely to push past 175 on a surface offering consistent help to both pace and spin. India, having seized full command of the day, will look to end the innings swiftly and set the tone for the remaining days of the Test.
South Africa collapse to 154/8 at tea
