IND av SA 2nd Test: South Africa Secures 408-Run Victory Over India
South Africa clinch historic 2-0 series sweep.
In a crushing culmination to the second Test at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium, South Africa secured a resounding 408-run victory over India on Day 5, enforcing an innings defeat that marks their largest-ever margin against the hosts and propels them to a rare 2-0 series whitewash on Indian soil after 25 years.
India, set an improbable 549-run target after South Africa's declaration at 260/5 on Day 4, resumed their second innings at a precarious 27/2, having already lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal for 13—edged to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne off Marco Jansen—and KL Rahul for 6, bowled by spinner Simon Harmer; the young Sai Sudharsan and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav faced early pressure under overcast skies, with the hosts desperate to bat out the day and salvage pride.
As the morning session unfolded, Sudharsan survived a heart-stopping moment at 34/2 when Jansen's delivery induced an edge, only for it to be ruled a no-ball, while Kuldeep endured a dropped catch at slip; however, Harmer struck decisively, dismantling the middle order by dismissing Kuldeep for 5 and Dhruv Jurel for 2, both caught at slip by the exceptional Aiden Markram, leaving India reeling at 42/4 after 24 overs.
Also Read: IND vs SA 2nd Test: 549 to Win or Gambhir-Pant Era Ends in Humiliation
Rishabh Pant injected fleeting optimism into the innings, launching an audacious counterattack against Keshav Maharaj with a boundary and a towering six for 10 runs in one over, racing to 13 before perishing to Harmer's wily spin that caught the splice of his bat for another slip catch; at tea, India staggered to 90/5, with Ravindra Jadeja (23*) and Sudharsan (14*) unbeaten, still requiring 459 more in the final session amid mounting Proteas dominance.
Post-tea, the resistance crumbled inexorably: Sudharsan departed for 14 after a gritty 125-ball vigil, edging Senuran Muthuswamy to Markram—who claimed a record-equalling ninth catch in the match—followed by Washington Sundar for 16 to Harmer's fifth strike; Jadeja, anchoring with his 28th Test fifty (54 off 87 balls, including a defiant six), fell lbw to Maharaj's slower delivery, paving the way for the final collapse as Harmer claimed his sixth (6/37) and Mohammed Siraj was brilliantly caught one-handed by Jansen, sealing South Africa's triumphant series conquest.
Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Arrival in Mumbai Ignites Fan Excitement Ahead of India vs South Africa ODI Series
