Steady Bavuma takes South Africa to 156 for 2 at lunch 

India removed both South African openers in the space of three deliveries on either side of morning break but the visitors displayed way more purpose on a better batting track to post 156 for 2 at lunch on the opening day of the second Test here on Saturday.

After Aiden Markram (38) found his defence breached off the final Jasprit Bumrah delivery in the morning session, it was Kuldeep Yadav, who picked Ryan Rickleton within two deliveries post resumption to set some panic among the Proteas ranks.

However, skipper Temba Bavuma (36 batting) was composed as usual, defending well and that also gave an initially shaky Tristan Stubbs (32) time to settle down and play some confident strokes in an unbroken stand of 74 for the third wicket.

For the spinners, there was some turn on offer but that could be termed as negligible and Stubbs, in particular, used his long strides to defend well.

Once he gained confidence, the right-hander lofted Kuldeep for a huge six over long-on and also pulled Bumrah (1/17 in 12 overs) through mid-wicket.

Bumrah, though, was the best bowler on view during the first two sessions where Indian bowlers didn’t enjoy the kind of help that they received from an underprepared track at Eden Gardens.

In the morning session, Bumrah had removed Markram with the final delivery of the first session.

He bowled a probing morning spell, repeatedly posing questions to both Markram and Rickleton but they did well enough to add 82 runs for the opening stand.

Markram survived the opening six-over spell, largely due to KL Rahul dropping a regulation catch in the second slip when he was batting on six.

Just when it seemed that Proteas opening pair were firmly in control, Bumrah bowled a full delivery and Markram going for an expansive drive was castled.

Towards the end of the first session, a couple of deliveries from Kuldeep and Washington Sundar did turn and jump but the better batting surface on offer did make the job of the openers easier.

There wasn’t any sign of uneven bounce first up but Bumrah did make liberal use of the lateral movement that was on offer.

Bumrah did challenge the outside edge of both Rickleton and Markram’s bats, while Siraj repeatedly troubled the southpaw with his angular deliveries, which would pitch on middle and move away.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah reaped the rewards for a probing morning spell by removing Aiden Markram with the final delivery of the first session as South Africa reached 82 for 1 at tea against India on the opening day of the second Test here on Saturday.

Bumrah bowled a probing spell, repeatedly asking questions to both Markram (38) and Ryan Rickleton (35 batting), who survived the opening six-over spell, largely due to KL Rahul dropping a regulation catch in the second slip when the former was batting on six.

Just when it seemed that Proteas opening pair were firmly in control, Bumrah bowled a full delivery and Markram going for an expansive drive was castled all ends up.

Towards the end of the first session, a couple of deliveries from Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar did turn and jump but the better batting surface on offer did make the job of the openers easier.

There wasn’t any sign of uneven bounce first up but Bumrah did make liberal use of the lateral movement that was on offer. Bumrah did challenge the outside edge of both Rickleton and Markram’s bats, while Siraj repeatedly troubled the southpaw with his angular deliveries, which would pitch on middle and move away.

Bumrah hit Markram’s pads with some sharp off-cutters making him uncomfortable. Then he got one to straighten which the Proteas vice-captain jabbed at and to his relief found KL Rahul spill a regulation chance. It was the seventh over of the innings and Markram was then batting on 6.

Indian skipper Rishabh Pant introduced Nitish Reddy at the stroke of drinks break and post break changed his ends. But his bowling at best was steady without being menacing. The ‘in-out’ field employed by Pant with three slips along with deep point and deep square leg made scoring easier for the openers.

Once the moisture dried up, Markram did play some flowing drives and the punch through covers off Reddy was among the best boundaries during the first session.

In case of Rickleton, he punished the deliveries from Siraj and Reddy which strayed down the leg-side.

Brief scores:

South Africa 156/2 in 55 overs (Aiden Markram 38, Ryan Rickelton 35, Tristan Stubbs 31 not out, Temba Bavuma 36 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 1/17, Kuldeep Yadav 1/27) vs India.