The second day of the one-off Test between India and South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai saw a captivating battle unfold, with South Africa’s Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp proving to be formidable adversaries for the Indian bowlers. After India declared their innings at 603/6, setting a challenging target, South Africa faced a daunting task against a relentless Indian spin attack.
The day began with a promising start for South Africa, with skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch exhibiting assured composure during the initial overs. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Sneh Rana, gradually gained control. Wolvaardt, known for her signature cover drive, found her movements restricted by India’s strategic field placements. A crucial breakthrough came when Rana trapped Wolvaardt lbw, much to the delight of the Indian team.
Bosch continued her resistance, showcasing a strong display of batting, while Luus, who came in at number three, adopted a patient approach, allowing India to experiment with their bowling strategies. Pooja Vastrakar, deployed to curb the visitors’ runs, received ample protection on the offside. Bosch eventually responded with a powerful six, launching Rajeshwari over long-on.
The South African batters had prepared for this tour, attending a spin camp to refine their techniques against the subcontinental conditions. This preparation was evident in their approach, with Luus showcasing excellent shot selection and striking a six off Sneh Rana.
India eventually broke the partnership when Bosch edged a delivery from Sneh Rana to Deepti Sharma at first slip. Kapp joined Luus in the middle, and together, they frustrated India’s bowlers for most of the afternoon. Their partnership extended to a crucial 93 runs in 176 balls, wearing down the Indian attack and putting South Africa in a dominant position.
Smriti Mandhana, who had dismissed Luus for her first international wicket in a previous ODI match, even offered to bowl a few overs. While the mood remained light, the pressure was undeniably on Luus and Kapp to see out the day, a task they executed with impressive resilience. Luus, displaying a composed batting approach, defended resolutely, while Kapp maintained her aggressive style, hitting a powerful four to bring up her half-century.
India, however, managed to break through once again, with Deepti Sharma dismissing Luus leg before. Sneh Rana then sent Delmi Tucker back to the pavilion with a duck.
Despite the pressure, Kapp, demonstrating remarkable resilience, managed to persevere through the challenging conditions. She needed physio attention for cramps in the back and leg, but she soldiered on. Kapp, along with Nadine de Klerk, added an unbeaten 38-run partnership, leaving South Africa at 236/4 at the end of the day.
Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh continued their strong performance from day one, each reaching their half-century. Harmanpreet, in particular, finally achieved her maiden fifty-plus score in Test cricket after eight innings. However, Harmanpreet was dismissed lbw by Tumi Sekhukune after a brilliant review from the South African side. Richa Ghosh followed shortly after, bowled by Mlaba, bringing India’s innings to an end.
