One-off Test: Luus, Kapp keep Proteas alive after India pile up record total

CHENNAI: Gritty half-centuries from Sune Luus (65, 164b; 6x4, 1x6) and Marizanne Kapp (69*, 125b; 8x4) sparked a South African resurgence as they crawled their way to 236-4 after India declared their record-shattering innings at 603-6 on Day Two of the one-off Test. They stitched a near-century stand to stay alive in the contest.

The visitors remained unfazed about India's gigantic total and went about their business calmly on Saturday. Proteas openers Laura Wolvaardt (20) and Anneke Bosch (39) were undeterred by the scorching heat in their seven overs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as they began their innings in smooth fashion. Both got off the mark with a four and went on to hit the pacers for boundaries occasionally.

To separate the duo, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who had closely observed the passage of play in the morning session, was tempted to bring in the ever reliable Sneh Rana (3-61) on the spin-friendly surface. Right after the lunch break, Sneh hit the nail on the head by giving India their first breakthrough.

The right-arm off-break bowler looked determined to get rid of South Africa captain Wolvaardt. In the eighth over, she first lost a review when a sharply turning delivery appeared to be on the path of Wolvaardt's stumps. Three deliveries later, she finally got her prized wicket as the ball kept low and did not turn as much as it did in the previous deliveries, trapping Wolvaardt LBW.

Speaking to the media after the match, Sneh, who was the pick of the bowlers, said: "Laura's wicket was the most satisfactory one because I have been manifesting her wicket for a long time."

After losing Wolvaardt, Bosch and Luus kept India at bay in a well-curated stand of 63 runs off 137 balls. It was Sneh who once again did the job for the hosts, dismissing Bosch as her fellow offie Deepti Sharma took a catch at first slip.

The day's highlight was the alliance between Luus and Kapp, who made most of the dropped catches and missed chances. They took time to settle in and shared a crucial 93-run partnership for the third wicket. The pair showed defiance against the Indian bowlers with their good techniques and kept SA in the contest.
Before the curtains were brought down on day's play, Kapp and Nadine de Klerk (27*) survived the last phase to remain unbeaten. South Africa amassed 130 runs in the final session of the day and will be satisfied with their fightback.

Earlier, after being completely outplayed and conceding 525 runs on the opening day, the South African bowlers encountered another dazzling display of batting from the Indians - Harmanpreet (69, 115b; 4x4) and Richa Ghosh (86, 90b; 16x4) -motored to their fifties as the duo added 143 runs off 154 balls for the fifth wicket. But the reply by the SA batters was gritty and they will be hoping not to let their momentum slip too easily on the third day.


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