NEW DELHI: Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar extracted notable turns, but South Africa still stretched their overall lead to 395 runs by tea on the fourth day of the second Test against India in Guwahati.
By the break, the visitors were 107 for three in 40 overs in their second innings.
What will concern the Indian batters is the sudden turn both Jadeja and Washington were able to generate. Neither bowler typically gets significant purchase on such a surface, and the extra grip they found signals that the pitch's top layer is deteriorating and could crumble further when India bats last to attempt a save.
Openers Ryan Rickleton (35 off 64) and Aiden Markram (29 off 84) once again added a fifty-plus partnership before Jadeja claimed both their wickets.
Rickleton, trying to reach to the pitch of the delivery, came too close and his lofted drive over cover couldn't beat Mohammed Siraj, who timed his jump to perfection.
In the case of Markram, Jadeja bowled a classical left-arm orthodox spinner's delivery. He tossed it a tad slower drawing Markram into a forward defensive. The batter had covered the angle perfectly but the ball gripped and then turned sharply to pass the outer edge and hit the off-stump.
The steady Washington then got rid of rival skipper Temba Bavuma (3) as one bowled in leg-middle line cramped the batter for room and also jumped enough to kiss the gloves and fly towards leg-slip to Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Going into the break, Tony de Zorzi (21 batting) was giving company to Tristan Stubbs (14 batting), who was again displaying his dogged self by not taking any undue risks. De Zorzi, at the other end, was adventurous as he lofted Washington for a six over long on.
It will be interesting to find out how long the Proteas bat before India face the onerous task on a track that is finally showing some signs of deterioration.
(With PTI Inputs)
