South Africa strengthen case for series sweep on Day 4

A day of attritional batting, led by Tristan Stubbs' 94 off 180 balls, helped South Africa set a mammoth target of 549 on Day 4 of the second Test against India in Guwahati. The visitors showed no urgency, patiently extending the lead past 500 before declaring late in the final session. After South Africa finished with 260/5 in their second innings, India lost their openers early and ended the day at 27/2, needing 522 on the final day to avoid a 0-2 series loss.

Resuming at 26/0, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram continued their steady partnership, taking it past 50. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar were used early but couldn't break through. Rickelton's innings ended on 35 when he got a leading edge off Ravindra Jadeja. Tristan Stubbs joined Markram, and a watchful partnership followed, lasting nearly 10 overs for only 15 runs, before Jadeja struck again, bowling Markram for 29 off 84.

South Africa slipped to 77/3 when Temba Bavuma fell cheaply, gloving a Washington delivery to leg slip. Washington missed a stumping chance to dismiss Stubbs. Tony de Zorzi then upped the ante, hitting a six off Washington and collecting boundaries with Stubbs as South Africa moved to 107/3 at Tea, with 81 runs coming in the session off 32 overs.

The lead crossed 400 early in the second session, with de Zorzi and Stubbs building a solid partnership. South Africa showed no urgency, content to bat time. The declaration didn't come even after the lead passed 450, and India burned a review when Kuldeep Yadav thought he had trapped Stubbs lbw.

The fourth-wicket stand passed 100 before Jadeja dismissed de Zorzi one short of fifty, lbw after missing a sweep, with South Africa losing a review. Wiaan Mulder then took over boundary-hitting duties as Stubbs brought up a patient half-century in 129 deliveries. The lead passed 500 when Mulder hit his fifth four. Both were unbeaten at Lunch, with South Africa 220/4, leading by 508.

Stubbs struck a flurry of boundaries at the start of the third session, mostly off Nitish Reddy, to enter the 80s as South Africa passed 250. He moved into the 90s with a six off Jadeja but fell four short of a century, bowled attempting a slog-sweep, giving Jadeja his fourth wicket. South Africa declared immediately, leaving India chasing a 500-plus target for only the second time in a home Test—the previous occasion was 543 set by Australia in Nagpur in 2004.

Marco Jansen set the tone with the ball, troubling Yashasvi Jaiswal with short-pitched deliveries in the opening over. Jaiswal got his first runs by flicking Jansen for a four and upper-cutting a six. KL Rahul was watchful at the other end, taking 13 deliveries to get off the mark.

Jaiswal fell for 13, caught behind attempting a cut shot off Jansen. Rahul followed soon after, bowled in Simon Harmer's first over. Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav saw India through to stumps, with the hosts in deep trouble and staring at a series sweep by South Africa.

Brief scores: South Africa 489 & 260/5 decl. (Tristan Stubbs 94, Tony de Zorzi 49; Ravindra Jadeja 4-62) lead India 201 & 27/2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 13; Simon Harmer 1-1, Marco Jansen 1-14) by 521 runs.