India’s Kuldeep Yadav (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan) India got the upper hand against South Africa on the first day of the second Test, with the tourists finishing on 247-6 at stumps. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer with three wickets.South African Tristan Stubbs and skipper Temba Bavuma put together a crucial 84-run partnership for the third wicket. The visitors elected to bat first as they sought their first Test series win in India since 1998.
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India, the reigning World Test champions, hold a 1-0 lead after winning the first Test by 30 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.In the last session, Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Bavuma while Kuldeep prevented Stubbs from reaching his half-century. A large weekend crowd in Guwahati witnessed an engaging display of cricket.Kuldeep Yadav finished with figures of 3-48, including the wicket of Wiaan Mulder. Mohammed Siraj contributed by removing Tony de Zorzi who scored 28 runs.Bad light forced an early end to play with Senuran Muthusamy (25) and Kyle Verreynne (1) at the crease. The day’s play lasted 81.5 overs instead of the standard 90 overs.The opening pair of Aiden Markram (38) and Ryan Rickelton (35) put on 82 runs before falling to Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep. Bavuma and Stubbs showed resilience at the crease, scoring consistently and playing effectively against the Indian spinners.Jadeja broke the partnership by dismissing Bavuma, who had scored a fifty in the previous Test. The South African captain was caught mid-match.Stubbs managed to hit a six off Jadeja but was soon caught at slip off Kuldeep’s bowling. The day’s play began 30 minutes earlier than usual at India’s newest Test venue. Session breaks were reorganized, with tea before lunch, and over 15,000 fans attended on the first day. Markram’s innings ended when he was hit by a Bumrah delivery on his stumps just before tea.Kuldeep struck immediately after the break to end Rickelton’s 82-ball innings.South Africa’s openers got off to a cautious start, Markram notching his first boundary, a cover drive off Bumrah, off his 17th delivery.The missed opportunity came when KL Rahul dropped a straight catch at second slip off Bumrah’s bowling.After drawing the series 1-1 in Pakistan, South Africa continue their quest for their first series win in India since Hansie Cronje led the team to victory in 2000.
