Guwahati, November 25, 2025: South Africa tightened their grip on the second Test and the series, as Tristan Stubbs’ gritty 94 powered the visitors to a commanding position on Day 4 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. The Proteas declared at 549, setting India an improbable 522-run target for victory.
India, under immense scoreboard pressure, faltered early in their chase and finished the day at 27/2, staring at a 2-0 whitewash.
Resuming at 26/0, South Africa adopted a cautious but calculated approach. Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram added a solid 50-run opening stand before Ravindra Jadeja removed Rickelton for 35. Jadeja struck again to dismiss Markram for 29, but India failed to capitalise further as Stubbs and Temba Bavuma settled in.
Washington Sundar removed Bavuma for 7, but not before missing a chance to dismiss Stubbs earlier in the spell. Tony de Zorzi then partnered Stubbs to rebuild the innings, lifting the visitors to 107/3 at Tea, with 81 runs scored in the session.
The pair continued to frustrate India post-Tea, patiently accumulating runs as the lead stretched past 400. De Zorzi fell for 49, trapped lbw by Jadeja, who remained India’s lone consistent threat.
Stubbs reached a determined half-century off 129 balls and continued to play the anchor role even as wickets fell around him. He moved into the 90s with a six off Jadeja but fell attempting a slog sweep, bowled for 94 — four runs short of what would have been a memorable maiden Test century. Jadeja finished with four wickets.
South Africa declared moments later at 260/5, leaving India with only the second-ever 500-plus chase in a home Test — the last being Australia’s 543 at Nagpur in 2004.
Marco Jansen immediately applied pressure with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, troubling opener Yashasvi Jaiswal throughout his brief stay. Jaiswal edged behind for 13, while KL Rahul was bowled by Simon Harmer for 5, deepening India’s troubles.
Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav managed to see India through to stumps without further damage, but with 522 still required on a wearing surface, India face a near-impossible task on the final day.
