South Africa achieved a rare record during the 1st Day of play in the Guwahati Test against India on Saturday (November 22) after Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat first, as each of their top four batters, including the captain, as well as Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, and Tristan Stubbs got good starts but failed to make it big.
Markram was dismissed by 38 by Jasprit Bumrah just before the Tea break, while Rickleton departed for 35 just after the second session. Later, Bavuma made 41 runs before Jasprit Bumrah dismissed while Tristan Stubbs fell one short of a half-century with a knock of 49 before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav.
South Africa’s 148-Year-Old First In Test Cricket
The South African innings marked the first instance in Test cricket history of each player in a team’s top four making more than 35 runs but neither getting a half-century. The record was sealed when Kuldeep dismissed Stubbs, who also got the closest to the milestone.
Talking about the match, South Africa ended Day 1 at 248-6 in 81.5 overs as they aim to seal a historic series victory. Kuldeep took three wickets for India while Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Jadeja got one each.
South Africa is leading the series 1-0 and has the chance to seal their first-ever series victory on Indian soil in 25 years. With a victory, the World Test Champions have the chance to complete a historic whitewash too.
In the opening game of the series at Eden Gardens, the Bavuma-led side registered a 30-run victory in a low-scoring match, which finished in three days.