INDvSA
Spin carnage in Kolkata as Jadeja and Kuldeep destroy South Africa in a dramatic low-scoring Test
Kolkata/IBNS: Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav ripped apart the South African batting line-up on a spin-friendly wicket, which is threatening the first Test to not go beyond three days at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
South Africa tumble in second innings. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
The chatter over Team India management and pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee rewinded as the scorecard looks miserable for South Africa as the World Test Champions were reduced to 93-7 at stumps on day two after a low total in the first innings on Friday.
Jadeja, Kuldeep and Axar Patel picked four, two and one wicket respectively as the spin department reaped the maximum benefit of a pitch, which has been described as "awful" by England cricket legend Michael Vaughan.
Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his wicket. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
South African skipper Temba Bavuma (29 off 78 balls) was the lone warrior for the Proteas as he along with Corbin Bosch (1) were unbeaten when the umpires called it a day on a soothing, cold winter evening.
Earlier in the day, India circumvent Simon Harmer's fierce bowling that earned him four wickets to take a slender lead of 30 runs in the first innings as the hosts were bowled out for 189 in a lack-lustre batting display at the iconic stadium, which were empty in patches even on the weekend.
South Africa celebrate an Indian wicket. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
India suffered a body blow on Saturday when their captain Shubman Gill left the field only three balls into his innings of four runs when he caught a neck spasm within seconds after sweeping a ball to boundary.
Shubman Gill suffered neck spasm on day two of first Test against South Africa. Photo: BCCI/X
The pitch at the Eden Gardens had grabbed the headlines ahead of the Tests as media reports had claimed Team India management comprising head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Gill had a 15-minute meeting with the curator.
However, curator Mukherjee said Gambhir had asked for "some turn and carry", CNN News 18 reported.
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