NEW DELHI: Tristan Stubbs was concentration personified on his way to a well-deserved fifty, taking South Africa's lead to an insurmountable 508 runs at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test against India.

By the break, the visitors had reached 220 for four after two solid batting sessions on the penultimate day.

Stubbs (60 batting off 155 balls), who had narrowly missed out on a fifty in the first innings by just one run, anchored the innings with a calm and composed effort. South Africa’s clear aim in the first two sessions was to bat in a manner that left India no chance of chasing the target in the fourth innings.

There was significant turn on offer in the opening session, with Ravindra Jadeja (3/46 in 24 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/67 in 22 overs) sharing three wickets. Tony de Zorzi (49 off 68 balls) and Stubbs, however, frustrated the Indian spinners in the second session, adding a 101-run partnership as the ball softened.

Proteas in cruise control as Indian spinners struggle

Stubbs hit five boundaries while De Zorzi added four boundaries and a six, relying heavily on sweep shots to counter the turn. De Zorzi’s dismissal by Jadeja, however, did little to affect South Africa’s momentum, with the visitors firmly in cruise control.

The Indian fielders’ body language dropped noticeably after a point, signalling their anticipation of a declaration later in the day. A worry for India will be the sudden turn extracted by both Jadeja and Sundar in the first session, reportedly more than four degrees, which could make batting difficult in the fourth innings.

Earlier, openers Ryan Rickleton (35 off 64 balls) and Aiden Markram (29 off 84 balls) had added a half-century stand before Jadeja struck twice. Rickleton, attempting a lofted drive over cover, misjudged the length and was caught by Mohammed Siraj. Markram was undone by a classic left-arm orthodox delivery from Jadeja that gripped and turned sharply to hit the off-stump.

The steady Washington Sundar then dismissed rival skipper Temba Bavuma (3) with a ball that landed in the leg-middle line, lifted off the pitch, and glanced off Bavuma’s gloves to Nitish Kumar Reddy at leg-slip.

(With PTI Inputs)