South Africa Set India 549-Run Target, Reduce Hosts to 27/2 in Guwahati

South Africa tightened their stranglehold over the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium by setting India a towering target after declaring at 260 for 5 in their second innings, with a massive 549-run lead, before reducing the hosts to 27 for 2 under fading light on Day Four.

The visitors had resumed after lunch at 220 for 4, with Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder extending their control over the contest. Their fifth-wicket partnership was steady and calculated, bringing up fifty runs in 93 balls as Mulder grew in fluency with crisp drives, cuts and glances, while Stubbs continued to sweep and reverse with authority.

South Africa crossed 250 in the 77th over, pushing India further on the defensive with little response from the bowlers despite patches of turn.

Stubbs, poised for a maiden Test hundred, launched Jadeja for a massive slog-sweep six over mid-wicket. But two overs later, as he attempted another big swing, Jadeja's tossed-up delivery hit the top of off stump, ending his superb 94 off 180 balls. That strike prompted the declaration at 260 for 5 in 78.3 overs, leaving India with a mountainous task on a deteriorating Guwahati surface.

India's reply began shakily. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit an early four and a ramped six off Marco Jansen, but the left-armer hit back swiftly, inducing an outside edge that wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne accepted with ease.

KL Rahul's innings unravelled in similar fashion; Simon Harmer got one to dip and turn sharply from outside off, beating his forward prod and hitting the stumps. India reviewed an lbw against Sai Sudharsan earlier, but the umpire's call saved him despite the ball shown to be crashing into the stumps.

India were 27 for 2 in 15.5 overs when bad light forced an early finish. Sudharsan was battling on 2, Kuldeep Yadav survived an anxious moment when UltraEdge confirmed a faint inside edge before his bat hit the stumps, and he remained on 4.

Earlier in the day, South Africa had moved steadily through the morning session. Stubbs reached his fifty and then accelerated, while Mulder's assured strokeplay kept the scoreboard moving.

India's review against Sudharsan during the final session—challenged by South Africa for a caught-behind off Harmer—was struck down by the third umpire on umpire's call, adding another nervy moment to a difficult evening for the hosts.

The Proteas' second successive day of dominance means India now face a test of resilience rather than pursuit. With eight wickets in hand and a daunting target in front of them, the challenge on a turning surface will only grow sharper on the final day in Guwahati.