South Africa lead by 548 runs against India

South Africa lead by 548 runs against India  2nd Test, Day 4 Live: South Africa declares at 260/5, setting India a near-impossible target of 549 runs to win. Tristan Stubbs (94) anchors the innings.

South Africa Sets Monumental 549-Run Target, India Faces Historic Deficit

In a commanding display of grit and strokeplay, South Africa has seized near-total control of the 2nd Test against India, declaring their second innings at 260/5 and setting a virtually unconquerable target of 549 runs for the hosts to chase.¹ The mammoth total, built on the foundations of a massive first-innings lead, leaves India reeling and facing a severe crisis in the two-match series.

🏏 South Africa’s Batting Masterclass: The 1st Innings Power Play (489 All Out)

The foundation for this dominant position was laid in the first innings, where South Africa amassed a formidable total of 489.² The innings was defined by two phenomenal lower-order partnerships that completely deflated the Indian bowling attack on a pitch that offered little early assistance.³

India’s bowlers toiled for over 150 overs, but the lack of incisiveness proved costly. Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler, bravely finishing with figures of 4/115 after the other frontline bowlers struggled to contain the Proteas’ middle and lower order.⁴ Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets apiece, but the inability of the finger spinners to extract significant turn on the Guwahati track was a major talking point.

📉 India’s Batting Collapse: The Jansen Wall (201 All Out)

In response, the Indian batting line-up crumbled under pressure, managing only 201 runs, giving South Africa a massive 288-run first-innings lead.⁵ The collapse was brutal, turning a hopeful start into a devastating loss of six wickets for just 27 runs in a short, fiery spell.⁶

The chief destroyer was the lanky all-rounder, Marco Jansen, who followed up his spectacular batting performance with a career-best bowling spell.⁷ Jansen used the pace and bounce of the wicket to devastating effect, claiming remarkable figures of 6/48.⁸ He was well supported by the controlled off-spin of Simon Harmer, who took 3/64 and removed the well-set Jaiswal. Only Jaiswal and a gritty Washington Sundar offered substantial resistance, but their efforts were insufficient to save the innings from implosion.⁹

🚀 The Final Nail: Stubbs Powers Second Innings Declaration (260/5 Declared)

Armed with an imposing lead, South Africa opted not to enforce the follow-on, instead choosing to bat India completely out of the game.¹⁰ They succeeded in this endeavor with a quick-fire second-innings effort, declaring at 260/5 to set a near-impossible chase.¹¹

South Africa lead by 548 runs against India

Young opener Tristan Stubbs starred in the second innings, showing immense maturity to anchor the innings with a brilliant 94, narrowly missing out on a century.¹² He was ably assisted by Wiaan Mulder (35*), who provided the final flourish before the declaration. For India, Ravindra Jadeja finally found some rhythm and extracted turn and bounce from the fourth-day surface, finishing with figures of 4/62 in the second innings.

🛑 India’s Uphill Battle and Historic Implications

The daunting target of 549 places India in a near-impossible position. In the history of Test cricket, only once has a higher score been successfully chased. With the pitch now showing signs of degradation and the South African bowling attack buzzing with confidence, the odds are heavily stacked against Rishabh Pant’s side.

Having already lost the first Test, India must now produce a performance of historic magnitude to salvage a draw, let alone an unlikely victory, and avoid a humiliating series sweep at home. The final act of this Test promises high drama, with the Proteas sensing a momentous and historic series victory on Indian soil.