South Africa defeated India by 408 runs in the second Test of the series played between the two teams at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The Proteas, who came into this match with a 1-0 lead thanks to their heroics in Calcutta, whitewashed their opponents, which is no mean feat given how strong India are known to be on home soil. With this win, the current World Test champions pocketed the series 2-0.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first on a surface that looked quite placid. His batters repaid his faith, with all-rounders Senuran Muthusamy scoring a brilliant century (109) and Marco Jansen missing his by just seven runs (93) to help put up a big total of 489 on the board. None of the Indian bowlers were able to crack the code except chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who picked up four wickets.
India responded with just 201 runs in their first innings, handing the visitors a massive lead of 288. None of the home team's batters showed any stomach for a fight, save Yashasvi Jaiswal (58) and Washington Sundar (48). The duo saved India's face only somewhat before all-rounder Jansen picked up 6-48 to embarrass them even further. South Africa fielded well and bowled according to their plan, and this allowed them to dictate terms in this innings.
Although they could have chosen to do so, South Africa did not ask India to follow on and walked out to bat themselves in the second innings. This time around, the hosts were treated to a show by young batter Tristian Stubbs, who scored 94 before being bowled by Ravindra Jadeja. The left-arm spinner picked up 4-62, but was unable to prevent the Proteas from getting to 260-5 before declaring their innings closed.
India were set a gigantic target of 549 in the fourth innings, and the task looked uphill right from the start. And that was when off-spinner Simon Harmer, who was the hero of the first Test in Calcutta with match figures of eight wickets, got into the act. Harmer got the ball to turn and bounce prodigiously, and returned with figures of 6-37, to bowl India out for a mere 140 runs on the board. Only Jadeja, with a swashbuckling 54, saved India's blushes to a small extent. South Africa won the match by 408 runs, and took the series 2-0, while India dropped some crucial World Test Championship points, that too, at home.