India nose ahead with regular strikes on opening day in Guwahati

Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma crossed 40

It was a day of promising starts and a couple of 80-run stands but the opening day of the Guwahati Test ended with India nosing slightly ahead. Each of the top seven batters got into double digits but only Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma crossed 40 as India made regular incisions to ensure South Africa did not get away. Kuldeep Yadav bagged three while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja picked up a wicket apiece to leave the visitors at 247/6 at the end of the first day’s play at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

Opting to bat, South Africa got off to a good start, with their openers adding 82. Aiden Markram had an early reprieve, put down at second slip by KL Rahul off Bumrah when he was on 4. He capitalised on the miss as he and Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa add 34 in the first hour without any damage. The pair grew in confidence as their partnership progressed, getting regular boundaries. Nitish Reddy, one of two inclusions for India in this game, did not have the best of starts, going for 21 in his first four overs, as the South African openers raised their second half-century stand in this series.

There was bounce on offer, and some spin too, but the openers negotiated that well and looked set to take South Africa through the first session unscathed. However, Bumrah came back towards the end of the session and just on the brink of Tea, got Markram (38) inside-edging onto the stumps attempting a drive away from his body. This left South Africa at 82/1 heading into the Tea break.