Proteas notch up historic win in low-scoring thriller in India

The Proteas on Sunday recorded a historic 30-run victory over India in India on day three of the first Test of their two-match series.

It was South Africa’s first win in India in 15 years and set them on course for their first series win in the country since 2000.

The pitch at Eden Gardens in Kolkata was a dream for every type of bowler.

There was prodigious turn for the spinners, while the fast bowlers had seam, reverse swing and variable bounce in their favour.

Neither team was able to muster more than 200 runs in either of their innings, with India’s first innings effort of 189 the closest.

For South Africa, a first innings score of 159 on day one followed by 153 all out was enough to set India 124 runs to win the match, a target out of reach on a consistently deteriorating wicket. South Africa bundled India out for 93 in just over one session on Sunday.

Despite this, India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, said he was pleased with the surface in Kolkata.

“This is exactly the pitch we were looking for,” he said,  laying the blame for the defeat on his batters.

“I feel that the curator was very, very helpful. This is exactly what we wanted, and this is exactly what we got. If you don’t play well, this is what happens.”

The difference

While it was India who folded for 93, it could so easily have been the case for South Africa in their second inning.

They went to stumps on day two on 93 for seven, with skipper Temba Bavuma and all-rounder Corbin Bosch at the crease.

The pair put together 42 runs in the morning of day three to guide South Africa to 153.

The runs proved to be vital, and the 44-run partnership was the Proteas’ highest in the match.

India’s stand-in captain, Rishabh Pant, credited the stand as the difference between the two teams.

Bavuma’s contribution of 55 undefeated off 136 deliveries (four fours) was the highest score in the match, with no other player from either side surpassing 40. These small margins played a big role in the Proteas’ victory, with the captain recording his 26th Test half-century.

“I said it two days before the Test match, having our best player back is very reassuring for us, it brings calmness,” Proteas coach Shukri Conrad said about Bavuma.

“I also mentioned that in the last 18 months to 24 months he’s been one of the best players in the world, and he showed that again this morning and yesterday afternoon.

“He was clear on how he wanted to do it, and went against the grain of everybody else in the match.

“That was the difference between the two sides: Temba’s innings, his partnership with Boschie this morning. I thought that was immense and that gave us something we felt we could defend.”

Harmer time

Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj picked up key wickets, but it was the off-spin of Simon Harmer, who was named the player of the match, that twice ripped apart the Indian batting lineup.

India’s glut of left-handed batters stood little chance against the accurate spinner’s bag of tricks.

His stock delivery was slower, turning and bouncing on the helpful surface, but he also fired in more than a handful of faster balls that had the batters second-guessing their decisions.

Harmer collected four wickets in each innings to finish with eight wickets for 51 runs.

His chances for a Test five-wicket haul were inhibited by the fact that regular Indian skipper Shubman Gill retired hurt in the first innings and didn’t bat in the second.

Gill only faced three balls in the first innings, sweeping the third for four off the bowling of Harmer. He went down on one knee to play the stroke and suffered a spasm in his neck when rising.

South Africa added their fair share to the drama by burning through three straightforward LBW Decision Review System appeals in their first innings.

What made matters worse was that number 11 Maharaj was given out after being struck on the pad by Jasprit Bumrah on the third ball of his innings. Replays showed that the ball would have missed leg stump, but because South Africa had no reviews left, the tailender had to accept the decision.

South Africa’s victory was made sweeter by the fact that they were without superstar fast bowler Kagiso Rabada on a track that would have turned him into an even bigger threat. DM