South Africa openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton became the first Proteas pair in 17 years to record 50-run partnerships in both innings of a Test in India, achieving the feat on Monday during the second Test in Guwahati.
The pair put on 82 in the first innings and followed it with a 59-run stand in the second. They joined the rare company of Herschelle Gibbs–Gary Kirsten (Mumbai, 2000), Graeme Smith–Andrew Hall (Kanpur, 2004) and Smith–Neil McKenzie (Chennai, 2008). India failed to win any of those previous matches.
Despite their solid starts, neither Markram nor Rickelton has crossed fifty in the series. Rickelton has scored 104 runs in four innings at 26.00, while Markram has made 102 at 25.50.
At tea, South Africa were 107/3 with Tony de Zorzi on 21* and Tristan Stubbs on 14*, extending their overall lead to 395. India’s spinners struck in quick succession after lunch, with Ravindra Jadeja removing both openers and Washington Sundar dismissing captain Temba Bavuma for three.
South Africa resumed the session at 26/0 and reached the 50-run mark in the 16th over before Jadeja broke the stand. De Zorzi later shifted momentum with a 102-metre six off Sundar and continued to attack India’s spinners.
Earlier, India were bowled out for 201 in reply to South Africa’s 489, with Marco Jansen claiming a career-best 6/48. Washington Sundar (48) and Kuldeep Yadav (19) added 72 for the eighth wicket but could not prevent a follow-on, which South Africa declined to enforce.
South Africa’s first-innings total was anchored by Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden Test century (109), supported by Kyle Verreynne (45) and Jansen’s 93 off 91 balls. Kuldeep Yadav took 4/115 for India.
Brief scores: South Africa 489 & 107/3; India 201.