DAY 3: Harmer turns the screws as India staggers to 102-4

Simon Harmer claimed two quick wickets on the stroke of ‘tea’ and India lost three in the space of 20 balls to collapse to 102-4 in reply to South Africa’s first innings score of 489 in the morning session on the third day of the second test at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Monday morning.

The home side made a solid start adding 65 for the first wicket before KL Rahul (22) edged Keshav Maharaj to Aiden Markram at slip but appeared to have consolidated well with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan taking the score to 95-1 with just 20 minutes to go until the break.

Jaiswal’s composed and stylish innings came to a close when a Harmer delivery gripped and ‘stopped’ as he attempted a backfoot cover drive resulting in a low catch to Marco Jansen at backward point. The left hander’s 58 from 97 balls contained seven driven and swept fours and a slog-swept six against Harmer.

South Africa’s dominant session was completed when Sai Sudharsan (15) pulled a short ball from Harmer (11-1-39-2) to midwicket where Ryan Rickelton juggled but caught a diving catch before Dhruv Jurel made a mess of a pull shot against Jansen and lobbed a catch to Maharaj at mid on to depart for an 11-ball duck.

Rishabh Pant (6) made his intentions clear when he advanced down the wicket to his first ball from Harmer and drove the resultant full toss for six and will resume after the break in the company of Ravindra Jadeja who has yet to score.

INDIA: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (captain/wkt), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj.