On a second day when Eden Gardens behaved more like an ageing subcontinental surface than the balanced track it had been billed to be, Ravindra Jadeja sliced through South Africa’s middle order with a sparkling four-wicket burst that left the visitors scrambling for stability.

India’s first innings had folded for 189 in 62.2 overs, their 30-run lead feeling more like a modest cushion than any real authority, but Jadeja’s spell transformed the afternoon and exposed just how far the pitch had drifted from the even contest Sourav Ganguly had promised before the Test.

By stumps, South Africa were reeling at 93 for 7, their advantage a fragile 63. Jadeja’s 4 for 29 included the wickets of Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs, each dismissal tightening India’s grip as

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