South Africa Fight Back to Level Series with 5-Wicket Victory in High-Altitude Thriller
In a dramatic turn of fortunes at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, South Africa squared the Freedom Trophy at 1-1 with a tense five-wicket victory over India in the 2nd Test on November 22-26, 2025. Chasing 238 on a day-five pitch offering sharp turn and low bounce, the Proteas lost early wickets but were steered home by Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 82 and a gritty 48 from Tristan Stubbs, reaching 241 for 5 in 76.3 overs. India’s first-innings 312—powered by Virat Kohli’s majestic 142—gave them a 104-run lead, but their second-innings 133 all out, sparked by Kagiso Rabada’s 5 for 38, handed South Africa a gettable target. This hard-fought win keeps the series alive heading to Ranchi, while India, stunned by a rare home collapse, must regroup to avoid a first series loss since 2018.
The high-altitude venue, with its thin air and fast outfield, hosted 28,000 fans across five days—day four’s 12,000 roaring under floodlights as the game hung in balance. The pitch, a red-soil track with even bounce early, cracked and dusted by day five, turning into a spinner’s alley under overcast skies. Aiden Markram’s toss win and decision to bowl first exploited early moisture, but India’s middle order capitalized before Rabada’s fire turned the tide. For Rohit Sharma, the defeat was a gut-punch—promising positions squandered in familiar fashion. As Bavuma punched the air in jubilation, South Africa’s young brigade announced their arrival: the series now a best-of-three, with everything to play for.
Markram’s XI blended youth and fire: Markram, David Bedingham, Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi. Jansen’s left-arm angle over Gerald Coetzee targeted India’s left-handers, Maharaj’s spin the trump on turning tracks. India, under Rohit, fielded: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Sundar’s inclusion over Akash Deep added lower-order grit, Jadeja’s all-round edge pivotal.
Umpires Richard Kettleborough and Joel Wilson called play amid the Assam humidity, Jaiswal and Rohit facing Rabada’s venom under grey skies.
India’s first innings began with a fightback after early blows, their openers surviving the new ball’s seam. Jaiswal clipped Jansen through midwicket for four in the third over, but Rabada struck gold: his inswinger nipped back to trap Rohit lbw for 8 off 18—18 for 1. Gill joined Jaiswal, their 55-run stand off 82 balls a platform: Gill’s cover drive off Ngidi, Jaiswal reaching 30 off 52. But Maharaj’s drift deceived Gill—lbw for 28 off 48, 73 for 2. Kohli arrived, his poise a balm: he flicked Jansen off his pads for four, rotating with Jaiswal amid dots. Their 98-run stand off 142 balls pushed to 171 for 2 at lunch day one, Kohli on 42 off 68.
Post-lunch, Kohli ignited. Reaching fifty off 92 balls with a straight drive off Rabada, he targeted the spinners: lofting Maharaj over long-on for six. Jaiswal fell soon after—edged Jansen to slip for 62 off 112, 188 for 3. Rahul scratched 18 before bowled by Mulder’s cutter, Pant exploded briefly—pulling Rabada for six, racing to 25 off 18—but holed out to deep square off Ngidi. At 245 for 5 by tea, India led by 141. Jadeja and Ashwin rallied: Jadeja’s swept four off Maharaj, Ashwin’s lofted six off Mulder. Their 45-run stand off 62 balls lifted to 290 for 5, but Rabada returned to shatter: clean bowling Jadeja for 32 off 58, trapping Ashwin lbw for 28 off 45—312 all out in 98.2 overs, last five wickets for 67. Rabada’s 4-78 headlined, Jansen 2-62; Rohit noted, “Virat’s 142 was class; lower order fought.”
South Africa’s reply was a tale of resilience, their middle order grafting through India’s spin web. Markram fell early—bowled by Bumrah’s yorker for 4—12 for 1. Bedingham and de Zorzi rebuilt: Bedingham’s nurdled single off Ashwin, de Zorzi’s defensive prod against Jadeja. Their 48-run stand off 72 balls crawled to 60 for 1 at lunch day two, but Jadeja struck post-interval: his doosra trapped de Zorzi lbw for 22 off 58—60 for 2. Bavuma joined Bedingham, their 72-run stand off 108 balls a fightback: Bavuma’s swept four off Sundar, Bedingham reaching 38 off 82. At 132 for 2 by tea, South Africa trailed by 176.
Day three saw Stubbs resist: he pulled Siraj for six, but edged Jadeja to slip for 28 off 52—168 for 3. Rickelton scratched 12 before stumped off Ashwin, Mulder holed out to long-on off Sundar for 18—198 for 5. Maharaj and Bavuma fought: Maharaj’s defiant four off Bumrah, Bavuma reaching fifty off 112 balls with a flicked boundary off Jadeja. Their 38-run stand off 68 balls pushed to 236 for 5 by stumps, but day four’s morning brought collapse. Rabada (8) edged Siraj, Jansen skied Ashwin—South Africa 208 all out in 88.3 overs, trailing by 104. Jadeja’s 4-52 demolished, Ashwin 3-48; Markram rued, “We scrapped, but spin exposed gaps.”
India’s second innings aimed to bat South Africa out, but Rabada’s fire turned it into a procession. Jaiswal fell early—edged Rabada to slip for 8—12 for 1. Rohit scratched 18 before lbw to Jansen’s inswinger, Gill holed out to deep midwicket off Maharaj for 22—48 for 3. Kohli resisted: his cover drive off Ngidi, reaching 30 off 58, but Rabada’s bouncer hurried him—top-edged to fine leg for 32—82 for 4. Rahul and Pant added 28, but Ngidi trapped Rahul lbw for 18—110 for 5. Pant’s cameo—25 off 22, two sixes—ended stumped off Maharaj, Jadeja bowled by Rabada’s yorker for 0—118 for 7. Ashwin (12) skied Mulder, Sundar holed out to long-on off Maharaj—133 all out in 52.3 overs, Rabada’s 5-38 a masterclass, Maharaj 3-42. South Africa’s attack ruthless—fielding sharp with three run-out threats—India’s lead a modest 237; Kohli reflected, “133 was 100 short; KG’s spell broke us.”
South Africa’s chase of 238 began with nerves on day four evening: Markram and Bedingham added 28 for no loss in 8 overs. Day five’s overcast start brought drama—Bumrah trapped Markram lbw for 18—38 for 1. De Zorzi fell next—caught at silly point off Jadeja for 12, 50 for 2. Bedingham and Bavuma rebuilt: Bedingham’s nurdled four off Ashwin, Bavuma’s swept six off Sundar. Their 68-run stand off 98 balls lifted to 118 for 2 at lunch, needing 120 off 48 overs. Post-lunch, Ashwin’s carrom ball bowled Bedingham for 38 off 72—128 for 3.
Stubbs joined Bavuma, their 82-run stand off 122 balls the match-winner: Stubbs’ pulled four off Siraj, Bavuma reaching fifty off 92 balls with a straight drive off Jadeja. At 210 for 3 by tea, needing 28 off 28 overs, India tightened. Jadeja trapped Stubbs lbw for 48 off 88—218 for 4. Rickelton scratched 8 before edging Bumrah to slip—228 for 5, 10 needed off 18. Mulder (2*) joined Bavuma, who sealed it with a flicked four off Siraj in the 76.3rd—241 for 5. India’s bowlers fought—Jadeja 2-62, Bumrah 2-48—but extras (12) eased. Markram, elated, said, “Temba’s steel won it; Rabada’s five-for turned the game.” Rabada, Player of the Match, added, “Guwahati bounce suited; team grit shone.”
The series levels at 1-1, South Africa’s fightback vaults morale—Bavuma’s unbeaten 82 his third 50+ in India—Rabada’s 9-116 his 15th five-for. Jansen’s economy (3.21) looms, their chase under 3.2 run rate a template. India, hosts humbled, eye Ranchi: Kohli’s 174 aggregate heartens, but second-innings 133 alarms—middle-order average 15 bites. Jadeja’s 6-114 consistent, yet collapse woes persist.
This Test wasn’t mere draw; it was Guwahati’s alchemy—South Africa’s guile grinding India’s fortress. Assam’s roar fades, but the Freedom Trophy’s fire rages, with three battles left.
