Kolkata, Nov 15 (UNI) India tightened their grip on the opening Test as South Africa collapsed to 93 for 7 at stumps on Day 2, undone by a relentless spin assault led by Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav in their second innings.
Temba Bavuma was left fighting a lone battle on 29, with Corbin Bosch on 1, as the visitors ended another bruising session well behind in the contest, leading India by 63 runs.
SA scored 159 in their first innings, and India in reply scored 189, taking 30 runs lead. South Africa began their second innings in deep trouble. At tea, they were 18/1 in 6.4 overs, and although they reached 50 in 18.6 overs, wickets fell regularly as India kept tightening the screws.
By the third drinks break of the day, South Africa were 60/4, with Bavuma on 19 and Tristan Stubbs on 5.
Jadeja triggered the collapse in the second innings, removing Aiden Markram for 4 with an awkward sweep (8.2 overs), before sending back Wiaan Mulder for 11 with a ball that leaped off a length and took the glove (16.3).
Two balls later, Tony de Zorzi was caught at short leg for 2, giving Jadeja a double-strike and leaving South Africa in serious trouble at 16.5 overs.
Axar Patel added to the damage by bowling Kyle Verreynne for 9 with a wild, ill-judged slog (27.5), shortly after Verreynne survived a streaky boundary and a dropped chance at short leg.
Marco Jansen had an eventful stay—first surviving an LBW review (28th over), then smashing Axar for a six (29.1), but he eventually perished for 13 off 16 balls, top-edging a slog-sweep off Kuldeep Yadav to a sharp diving catch from KL Rahul (34th over).
Pant’s tactical suggestion to switch Kuldeep around the wicket proved decisive in the dismissal. India lost a review when challenging an LBW against Bavuma at 31.4 overs, the ball striking outside off.
Earlier, Bavuma showed brief resistance with boundaries off Jadeja (19th over), Bumrah (17.3), and Kuldeep (21.5), while Jansen briefly counter-attacked. But with no partnership holding firm, South Africa slid steadily.
By stumps, the visitors had slumped to 93/7 in 35 overs, leaving India overwhelmingly in control heading into Day 3.
