South Africa posted a formidable 489 in their first innings, thanks to Senuran Muthusamy\u2019s 109 \u2013 his maiden Test century and Marco Jansen\u2019s explosive 93. The duo\u2019s career best scores in Tests took them to a commanding total and put them in a good position to draw the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKolkata\u2019s wicket was different, this is a road,\u201d said Kuldeep Yadav, who returned 4\/115, at the press conference here on Sunday. \u201cIt\u2019s challenging and that\u2019s why it\u2019s called a Test wicket. It doesn\u2019t happen every day as a bowler. You always think of dominating, but when you get a good wicket then it\u2019s also very important how you come back. The way we bowled yesterday, we were in very good control but obviously, in one session there was a partnership so we got a little behind in the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India\u2019s openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal ensured there were no setbacks and reached 9\/0 in 6.1 overs at stumps on day two\u2019s play against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Due to light conditions deteriorating hugely, it brought another early end to the day, with India trailing South Africa by 480 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a difficult wicket for the bowlers because I didn\u2019t feel that there was a lot of help in this wicket, even for fast bowlers it didn\u2019t seem like a lot of help. But yes, this is Test cricket and you should enjoy it. The more you learn, the more you mature, you shouldn\u2019t think so much about the wicket.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kuldeep Yadav finished with four wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja claimed two apiece. Simon Harmer was the only South African batter not to reach double figures in an otherwise commanding display for the Proteas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The final session began with Siraj providing India the breakthrough they desperately needed when Muthusamy attempted for a hook, but failed to keep it down and was caught at fine leg, ending his career-best knock of 109 that had blunted India since he came out to bat at 201\/5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cPersonally, I felt yesterday in the first session there was a bit of moisture in the wicket so I got a little bit of turn there. After that it was very good to bat on,\u201d said Yadav. \u201cThere wasn\u2019t any turn yesterday as well as today. Jadeja and I have been talking about it but the wicket is very good to bat on.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI mean, obviously it\u2019s very good to have an attacking mindset but you have to understand how the wicket is playing and you can\u2019t just go attacking all the time and just leak runs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jansen continued to take charge - launching two towering sixes off Jadeja and taking a four and six off Siraj to push South Africa past 440, before Bumrah ripped out Simon Harmer\u2019s off-stump. Jansen continued to find boundaries and also featured in a defiant last wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj for 18 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Jansen fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test hundred - chopping on to a Kuldeep googly for 93. But his innings included seven sixes - the joint\u2011highest tally in a knock for a lower\u2011order batter in India. With South Africa making a score more than any first-innings total to lose a Test in India, they have left themselves well-placed to push for a rare series win on Indian soil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jansen continued to take charge - launching two towering sixes off Jadeja and taking a four and six off Siraj to push South Africa past 440, before Bumrah ripped out Simon Harmer\u2019s off-stump. Jansen continued to find boundaries and also featured in a defiant last wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj for 18 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Jansen and Wiaan Mulder being economical, India managed to be watchful till stumps arrived. With three days left in the game, pressure will be huge on India to level the series and save themselves from a second series loss at home in two years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n