LUNCH | Proteas strike back but India puts foot on the accelerator in Eden Gardens

Proteas spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj led South Africa's fightback against India on day two, getting the visitors two crucial wickets in the morning session, while Corbin Bosch's late dismissal of Rishabh Pant tilted the session in their favour at Eden Gardens.

For a long time, Indian teams of the past built a reputation for being ruthless against visiting spinners. Heading into the ongoing series, many wondered if the current crop of Indian Test cricketers could replicate that feat as the Proteas brought spinners Maharaj and Harmer to Indian shores.

There were even more concerns, as Maharaj and Harmer have a woeful record in India, having been met with aggression and ruthlessness during their tours in 2019 and 2015 respectively. However, this time around, the two Proteas spinners fought back bravely in the morning session on Day Two.

Harmer, right from his first over in the evening session on Day One, showed that there is turn on the Eden Gardens surface. In his first over on Day Two, the right-arm off-spinner got one to rip off the surface, taking the outside edge of the left-handed Sundar (29), with Aiden Markram taking a simple catch at first slip.

While Harmer (1/20) was getting the ball to turn off the surface, Maharaj had very little turn in the majority of his spell. Eventually, the slow left-arm orthodox got one to turn sharply against India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant, taking the outside edge, only for Markram not to react fast enough to take the catch at first slip.

It was a difficult chance for Markram as the ball bounced steeply. However, with the Proteas having been bowled out for 159 on Day One, South Africa desperately needed to take their chances, difficult or not.

Shortly after, Maharaj got his reward, as he accounted for India’s opening batter, KL Rahul (39). While Maharaj (1/66) got his wicket, Markram got his redemption, as he took a sharp low catch at first slip, handing South Africa their second wicket of the day.

Five minutes before the lunch interval, Bavuma brought in fast bowler Corbin Bosch to the attack, replacing Maharaj, who had been bowling since the start of the session.

Bosch (1/6) rushed the left-handed Pant with a short ball. Pant (27) looked to pull but could only glove it back to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who took a simple catch on the stroke of lunch.

With that dismissal, the Proteas took the opening session, although India did manage to score more than a 100 runs by going at a rapid rate. The Proteas also still need to pick up the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja (11 not out) and Dhruv Jurel (6 not out) to get to the India lower order.

Scorecard as it stands:

South Africa: 159 all out (Aiden Markram 31; Jasprit Bumrah 5/27)

India: 138/4 (KL Rahul 39; Corbin Bosch 1/6)