South Africa Steady at Lunch in Second Test Against India

South Africa made a strong beginning on the opening day of the second and final Test against India in Guwahati on Saturday. Even though they lost Ryan Rickleton early, captain Temba Bavuma played with confidence and helped his team reach 156 for two at lunch. The visiting team looked calm and in control throughout the morning session, keeping the Indian bowlers under pressure.

Rickleton and Aiden Markram provided South Africa with a solid start, adding 82 runs for the first wicket. Markram played carefully but also took advantage of loose balls, reaching 38 before being dismissed. Rickleton scored 35, but his innings ended when spinner Kuldeep Yadav made a breakthrough. Despite this wicket, the Indian bowling attack struggled to build pressure, and South Africa continued to score steadily.

Bavuma, who had scored the only half-century in the first Test in Kolkata, looked comfortable once again. At lunch, he was batting on 36, showing patience and good control. His partner, Tristan Stubbs, also appeared confident and unbeaten on 32. Their partnership kept South Africa moving forward without taking too many risks.

This match at Barsapara Cricket Stadium is historic because it is the first Test ever played at this venue. Due to the early sunrise and quickly fading light in the northeastern region, the usual break timings were changed. Instead of lunch, the tea break was taken first, making it a unique format for the players and fans.

Before the match, Bavuma chose to bat first after winning the toss. The pitch had a fair amount of grass, but it did not show cracks or uneven bounce. After playing on a turning pitch in Kolkata, where India won the first Test in just three days, South Africa welcomed these better batting conditions. Bavuma’s decision to start with the bat proved correct as the openers handled the pitch well.

India had a chance to remove Markram early when Jasprit Bumrah forced an edge, but KL Rahul dropped the catch at slip. This missed opportunity allowed South Africa to settle down and build a strong platform. Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant introduced spin in the 14th over, hoping for a breakthrough. Washington Sundar bowled steadily but did not trouble the batters much.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav later joined from the other end, trying to break the opening stand. However, the South African pair continued to bat patiently until Bumrah returned for a final over before the tea break. His effort paid off when Markram got an inside edge, and the ball hit his stumps.

After tea, Kuldeep struck again by dismissing Rickleton caught behind. But even after losing two wickets, South Africa stayed strong. Bavuma’s solid defence and Stubbs’ smart footwork against the spinners helped them add 74 runs for the third wicket without any further loss. Their partnership has put South Africa in a comfortable position early in the match.

India will hope their bowlers come back stronger in the next session, while South Africa will aim to build a big first-innings score. With the pitch still looking good for batting, the match promises an exciting contest between both teams.