India sniff big win in Kolkata Test as South Africa fall apart
Indian team gained complete control in the first Test match at the Eden Gardens as South Africa fell apart at the day end.
New Delhi: Indian team gained complete control in the first Test match at the Eden Gardens as South Africa fell apart at the day end. When stumps were called on Day 2, South Africa were reeling at 93/7 in their second innings, leading India (189) by a mere 63-run margin.
It was India's premier left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja who stole all the limelight at the iconic stadium with a devastating four-wicket haul to put the hosts in pole position of a massive victory. Jadeja wreaked havoc on the visiting team claiming four wickets and giving away just 29 runs. He took the prized wickets of Aiden Markram (4), Wiaan Mulder (11), Tony de Zorzi (2) and Tristan Stubbs (5).
Battng first in the Test match, South Africa had scored 159 runs. Earlier on Saturday, Proteas pacer Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer took seven wickets between them the hosts could just manage a 30-run lead. KL Rahul (39) was India's top-scorer while Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 27 runs each.
India were perfectly placed at Lunch on second day losing just 4 wickets but in a matter of just few overs, the host side lost 5 more wickets scoring just a little above 50 runs. Skipper Shubman Gill, who was retired hurt after scoring just 4 runs, unfortunately could not come out to bat again which folded India's innings earlier than usual.
Bowlers rules at tricky Eden pitch
On a tricky Eden pitch, both the teams suffered the same fate as the Kolkata cricket stadium proved to be heaven for bowlers from both the sides. Batters from both India and South Africa failed to convert their good starts into big scores as bowlers ruled the game on Saturday.
On the third day on Sunday, India would be wanting to finish the things early and chase the total to gain a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series.
Brief scores: South Africa: 159 all out and 93 for 7 in 35 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 4/29, Kuldeep Yadav 2/12) India: 189 all out in 62.2 overs (KL Rahul 39; Marco Jansen 3/35, Simon Harmer 4/30).