The rationale from the powers that be for expanding the number of Test centres in India is to give fans across the country a chance to experience the joy of the purest form of the game.

On Saturday (November 22, 2025), as Guwahati’s ACA Stadium became the country’s 30th Test venue with India taking on South Africa in the second and final match of the series, fans were treated to an engrossing day of Test cricket that had all the ebbs and flows one expects in this format.

Electing to bat, the visitors finished on 247 for six after having had a firm grip on proceedings for two-thirds of the day before Rishabh Pant’s men, led by Kuldeep Yadav (three for 48), fought back in the final phase, taking four wickets.

As expected with an early start (9 a.m.), there was a bit of assistance for the pacers, and Jasprit Bumrah was right on the money, pinning Aiden Markram down at one end.

The pace spearhead was probing around off-stump, and Markram was like a cat on a hot tin roof, testing both edges of the bat. The South African opener took 17 balls to open his account, punching Bumrah through the covers for a boundary and got a reprieve the very next ball when K.L. Rahul dropped a simple catch at second slip.

Post drinks, as the conditions eased, Markram and Ryan Rickelton were able to get a move on, finding boundaries easily. Rickelton hit Mohammed Siraj for consecutive boundaries, one past third-man, followed by a confident punch down the ground.

Just as it seemed the WTC champion would go to tea without losing a wicket, Bumrah provided the breakthrough when he had Markram playing on. The opener managed just five runs from 35 balls against the pacer, illustrating his struggle.

Immediately after the break, Kuldeep made it a double-strike when he had Rickelton caught behind. Skipper Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs then got the innings back on track through their 84-run alliance for the third wicket. Against some tight bowling from the Indian tweakers on a surface that offered a degree of turn and bounce, both batters looked in control, having clear plans and took their side to 156 for two at lunch.

Stubbs used his feet against the spinners to disrupt their lengths and lofted Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja for maximums over the sightscreen.

However, in the final session, the Indian spinners got into the action, inducing false shots from the Proteas batters, none of whom converted their starts. Bavuma tried to take on Jadeja and was caught at mid-off. Kuldeep then foxed Stubbs one short of his half-century by throwing a wide one, only for the batter to poke hard and edge it to Rahul in the cordon. The left-arm wrist spinner then foxed Wian Mulder as well with a delivery that dipped and had him caught at mid-off trying to go for a booming drive.

In the final over of the day, Siraj struck with the second new ball, removing Tony de Zorzi, caught behind and ensured the hosts got their noses ahead.