CALCUTTA, INDIA: South Africa miraculously defeated India by 30 runs inside three days in the first Test of the two-match series being played between the two teams, at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta, on Sunday, November 16. The current World Test Champions pulled off a surprise victory given how domineering India were expected to be on their home turf.
Batting first, South Africa could garner just 159 before being bowled out in 55 overs. Seamer Jasprit Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief for India with figures of 5-27. He ensured that no South African batter crossed the thirty-run mark except Aiden Markram (31). In response, India did not fare much better and were bowled out for 189, garnering a paltry lead of 30 runs.
Opener KL Rahul was India’s leading run-scorer with a 119-ball 39, with no other batter crossing 30. Skipper Shubman Gill, who retired hurt with a stiff neck, failed to return for the remainder of the match, and his absence was deeply felt in the Indian dressing room. Off-spinner Simon Harmer (4-30) spun a web around the Indian batters and prevented them from using their feet too much.
In the second innings, South Africa wiped India’s lead out, but not before losing Ryan Rickelton (11) and Aiden Markram (4) in the process. Although skipper Temba Bavuma stood tall with an unbeaten 55, Ravindra Jadeja spun the match in India’s favour with figures of 4-50, bowling the visitors out for 153. Set a small target of 124 to chase, with more than two days of play left, India put up a disheartening show with the bat in the second innings to get bowled out in 35 overs.
Washington Sundar, promoted to number three, top-scored with 31 while everyone else around him collapsed, allowing Harmer to return with 4-21. In the end, the hosts lost their last three wickets for the addition of no runs whatsoever, getting all out for 93. This collapse handed South Africa a morale-boosting victory at this venue, considered to be cricket’s response to the Colosseum in Rome, by 30 runs. They now lead the series 1-0, with the second Test to be played in Guwahati from November 22.
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