FILE PHOTO: Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 South Africa's Temba Bavuma after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo
(Reuters) -South Africa's top order produced a string of cameos to guide the world champions to 247 for six with spinner Kuldeep Yadav leading India's fightback on day one of the second and final test in Guwahati on Saturday.
Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickleton combined in an opening stand of 82 to give the tourists the start they were looking for after skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat.
Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs then raised 84 runs for the third wicket even though both missed the fifty mark.
India managed to keep a check on the run rate but Senuran Muthusamy (25) and Kyle Verreynne (one) will return on Sunday with South Africa eyeing a 300-plus total.
"A bit disappointing in the end there," Stubbs told the official broadcasters. "I think all of us in the top six got in and no one’s really made that big one.
"It (the pitch) wasn't free-flowing. You felt comfortable, but the scoreboard wasn't going anywhere."
Due to the early sunrise and fast-fading light in northeast India, the normal refreshment order has beenflipped for the match, scheduling the tea break ahead of lunch in the first-ever test match at Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Having won the series opener inside three days on a spinning track in Kolkata, Bavuma elected to bat on a pitch that had a fair amount of grass coverage and no cracks from where the ball could kick up.
Markram (38) got a reprieve on four when Jasprit Bumrah drew an edge but KL Rahul floored the catch at slip.
INDIA'S STAND-IN CAPTAIN PANT INTRODUCES SPIN
India's stand-in captain Rishabh Pant, leading the side in the absence of injured skipper Shubman Gill, introduced spin in the 14th over but Washington Sundar was unable to make an immediate impact.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep joined Sundar from the other end but the openers would still not be separated.
Pant then brought back Bumrah for one final over before the tea break and the decision paid off, Markram's thick inside edge sending the ball crashing into his stumps.
Rickelton (35) could not press on after the tea break and fell caught behind to Kuldeep (3-48).
Bavuma (41) was compact in his defence, while Stubbs (49) used his feet well against the Indian spinners.
South Africa were cruising at 166-2 before India struck back with their spinners to halt the tourists' progress in the final session.
After Ravindra Jadeja removed Bavuma, Kuldeep sent back Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder (13) in quick succession even as South Africa became the first team to breach the 200-mark in the two-test series.
Armed with the second new ball, Mohammed Siraj cut short Tony de Zorzi's knock of 28 in fading light.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford and Ken Ferris)
