India nose ahead with regular strikes on opening day in Guwahati

It was a day of promising starts and a couple of 80-run stands but the opening day of the Guwahati Test ended with India nosing slightly ahead. Each of the top seven batters got into double digits but only Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma crossed 40 as India made regular incisions to ensure South Africa did not get away. Kuldeep Yadav bagged three while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja picked up a wicket apiece to leave the visitors at 247/6 at the end of the first day's play at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

Opting to bat, South Africa got off to a good start, with their openers adding 82. Aiden Markram had an early reprieve, put down at second slip by KL Rahul off Bumrah when he was on 4. He capitalised on the miss as he and Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa add 34 in the first hour without any damage. The pair grew in confidence as their partnership progressed, getting regular boundaries. Nitish Reddy, one of two inclusions for India in this game, did not have the best of starts, going for 21 in his first four overs, as the South African openers raised their second half-century stand in this series.

There was bounce on offer, and some spin too, but the openers negotiated that well and looked set to take South Africa through the first session unscathed. However, Bumrah came back towards the end of the session and just on the brink of Tea, got Markram (38) inside-edging onto the stumps attempting a drive away from his body. This left South Africa at 82/1 heading into the Tea break.

Kuldeep got the other set opener right at the start of the second session, with Rickelton edging to the 'keeper to depart for 35. But India had to contend with another stubborn partnership as Bavuma and Stubbs showcased their application to keep the Indian bowlers at bay for the rest of the session. The pair also did not allow the scoreboard to stagnate, ensuring they cashed in on the loose deliveries and rotated the strike well. Bavuma struck two successive fours in an over off Siraj, while Stubbs wasn't afraid to go aerial despite a fielder being placed in the deep as he struck a six off Kuldeep.

India, meanwhile, lost a review when Bavuma missed a sweep off Jadeja, with replays revealing the ball was sliding down. Bavuma went on to bring up 1000 Test runs as captain, getting there in his 20th innings which made him the joint second quickest for South Africa. Both Bavuma and Stubbs entered the 30s, extending the partnership past 70, as they took South Africa to 156/2 at Lunch.

Stubbs and Bavuma began positively after the break, striking a boundary apiece before the South African skipper decided to give the charge to Jadeja and ended up lofting it to deep mid-off, ending a partnership worth 84. Stubbs closed in on a half-century with a four off Bumrah and a six off Jadeja. But Kuldeep ended his stay on 49, finding the outside edge to leave South Africa at 187/4. It became 201/5 as Kuldeep struck again, with Wiaan Mulder handing a catch to mid off trying to go over the top.

Tony de Zorzi ensured South Africa continued to add to their tally despite losing quick wickets, as the left-hander hit a four and a six in an over off Kuldeep. Senuran Muthusamy, coming in for Corbin Bosch, gave good support from the other end and also managed a couple of boundaries off Washington Sundar. However, yet another promising knock came to an end in an abrupt fashion as de Zorzi fell to the second new ball, poking at a delivery that seamed away from Siraj in the final over before Stumps.

Brief scores: South Africa 247/6 (Tristan Stubbs 49, Temba Bavuma 41; Kuldeep Yadav 3-48) vs India.