Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen have given the Proteas’ a chance of an improbable victory on the third morning of the first Test against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Bavuma showed all the fighting qualities that has made him an admired leader with a gritty unbeaten 55 to lift the Proteas to 153 – an overall lead of 123. The skipper spent just over three hours at the crease and faced 136 deliveries.
Bavuma found a capable partner in Corbin Bosch on the third morning with the allrounder bashing 25 off just 37 balls during an invaluable 44-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Every run frustrated the pair added to the frustration of the Indian team as the lead stretched over a 100.
It was left to first innings hero Jasprit Bumrah to finally bring to an end Bosch’s resistance with a searing delivery that kept low and hit the off stump.
Simon Harmer tried valiantly with Bavuma, but the belated introduction of Mohammed Siraj brought a hasty close to the Proteas’ innings with a double wicket over.
India, therefore, required 124 runs to take a 1-0 series lead, but they would have to chase down the target without their captain Shubman Gill, who was ruled out of the Test due to neck spasms.
The India skipper stretchered off from the stadium and hospitalised where he is “currently under observation”.
This meant India were effectively 0/1 when the chase started, and soon became 0/2 when Jansen had Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind off the third ball of the innings.
Jansen inflicted further damage in his next over with a sharp, rising delivery that caught KL Rahul by surprise with the right-hander offered Kyle Verreyenne a comfortable chance behind the wicket.
India had still not scored a run in their second innings, and Eden Gardens was in a state of shock, as the Proteas were filled with hope that they could indeed pull off the spectacular in Kolkata.
The home side’s nerves were settled though through Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel to keep the Proteas at bay.
First Test, Day 3, Lunch
South Africa: 159 & 153 (Bavuma 55*, Bosch 25, Jadeja 4/50, Sirag 2/2)
India: 189 & 10/2 (Jansen 2/8)
India need 114
