Yadav’s 3-48 restricts South Africa to 247-6 on 1st day of 2nd test against India

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GUWAHATI, India (AP) — Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav picked 3-48 as South Africa finished at 247-6 in 81.5 overs on the first day of the second cricket test against India on Saturday.

Tristan Stubbs top-scored with 49 off 112 balls, as the Proteas lost four wickets in the final session to concede and advantage gained in the first two sessions on a decent batting surface.

Skipper Temba Bavuma also scored 41 off 92 balls, adding 84 runs for the third wicket with Stubbs.

Play was called off in the late afternoon because of bad light, with 8.1 overs yet to be bowled.

At stumps, Senuran Muthusamy was unbeaten on 25 runs with Kyle Verreynne (1 not out) for company.

Earlier, South Africa had won the toss and opted to bat, reaching 82-1 at tea after the morning session.

Aiden Markram got an early life off Jasprit Bumrah — dropped on four at slip — and went on to score 38 off 81 balls with five fours.

He added 82 runs for the first wicket with Ryan Rickelton, who scored 35 runs. Bumrah bowled Markram on the penultimate ball before tea.

Stubbs was promoted to number three, but Rickelton was out immediately after resumption of play. He was caught behind off Yadav — in all, he faced 82 balls and hit five boundaries.

Then, Stubbs and Bavuma had their long partnership, together facing 180 deliveries. South Africa lost just the early wicket in the second session as the Indian bowlers struggled to get a breakthrough. The Proteas were 156-2 at lunch.

Yashasvi Jaiswal took a wonderful catch to dismiss Bavuma and set things in motion in the third session. He was caught off Ravindra Jadeja (1-30).

Stubbs added another 21 off 35 balls with Tony de Zorzi before Rahul snapped up a sharp catch at slip to give Yadav his second wicket in the 64th over.

South Africa had slipped to 187-4 and it became 201-5, with Yadav dismissing Wiaan Mulder for 13 runs.

“All of us in the top six got in and no one really made the big one," Stubbs said. “So it is a bit disappointing in the end there. I prefer batting at number three than anywhere else. The pitch played quite nice, but they bowled really well. It was quite hard to score and it wasn’t free flowing.”

Needing a partnership, de Zorzi and Muthusamy added 45 off 84 balls for the sixth wicket. But Mohammed Siraj struck late in fading light — de Zorzi was caught behind for 28 runs, just four balls before stumps.

The Proteas won the first test in Kolkata by 30 runs for their first test win in India in 15 years.

This is the first test ever played in Guwahati. Barsapara Stadium is the 30th test venue in India.

Rishabh Pant became India’s 38th test captain as he stood in for the injured Shubman Gill, but without any luck at the coin toss. India has lost eight of the nine tosses in tests this year.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket