Proteas face uphill task against India after crumbling on difficult pitch in Kolkata

The tourists went to stumps on 93-7 with captain Temba Bavuma defiant on 29 not out, but only have an overall lead of 63 runs after India were bowled out for 189, the home team taking a lead of 30 after both teams' first innings,

Having wrapped up the India innings just before the tea interval, Proteas opening pair Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram survived until the final over before the break when Rickelton was trapped in front by spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

The Proteas were two wickets down before the deficit was erased when Markram fell to Ravindra Jadeja, miscuing a sweep shot to be caught at short-leg.

Jadeja then ripped through the order to leave the Proteas on 60-5 before Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne took the side to a total to 75.

With 40 minutes remaining before the close of play, and in fading light, Verreynne played a nightmare shot to be clean bowled by Axar Patel.

Marco Jansen survived an lbw review off Kuldeep before going on the attack, the lanky allrounder hit a six and found space with a few blows but was out for 13.

Bavuma will resume with Corbin Bosch on day three hoping to stitch together something of a total so the bowlers can still have an opportunity to win the match, but that will take an almighty effort.

Earlier, the Proteas did well to restrict the hosts to 189 all out after India started the day on 37-1.

KL Rahul and Washington Sundar extended their overnight partnership to 57 and saw out the first hour before off-spinner Simon Harmer made the breakthrough.

Harmer went on to finish with figures 4-30 while Jansen took 3-35 as he Proteas' bowlers at least got them back in the contest.

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