KOLKATA: Spinner Simon Harmer took a match-winning eight-wicket haul to lead South Africa to a thrilling 30-run win over India within three days of a low-scoring opening Test on Sunday.
India, without captain and top-spinner Subman Gill, who was ruled out due to a neck injury sustained on Saturday, fell in the chase of 124 to be bowled out for 93 in Kolkata.
Harmer, who had figures of 4-30 in the first innings, delivered key blows in the second session, including having Rishabh Pant caught and bowled for two to stop the opposition’s run chase.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj struck twice in two balls to complete India and spark wild celebrations in the South African camp with the reigning world Test champions 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Washington Sundar tried to anchor the chase but fell to Aiden Markram’s off-spin for 31.
Axar Patel cheered the crowd with his two sixes off Maharaj before the bowler got his revenge to send the batter caught for 26 off 17 balls.
Spearhead Marco Jansen broke the Indians’ pre-lunch run with the hosts effectively 10-3 in the absence of Gill, who is in hospital and “under observation”, at the break and Harmer soon took charge.
Jansen in his first over got left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal to deliver a length delivery to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who then took a diving catch to dismiss Rahul.
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma scored a challenging 55 not out in his team’s second innings total of 153.
Bavuma played a defiant knock to keep South Africa in the hunt after they went on to 93-7 on a hard pitch with inconsistent bounce.
He started the day on 29 and bowled hard to complete the first half-century of a low-scoring contest.
Bavuma’s 44-run eighth-wicket stand with partner Corbin Bosch frustrated the Indian bowlers until spearhead Jasprit Bumrah broke.
Bumrah bowled Bosch for 25 before Bavuma reached his fifty in 122 balls, raising his bat to an applauding dressing room.
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj smashed Harmer’s stumps for seven and removed last man Keshav Maharaj for a duck in the space of four balls as Bavuma ran out of partners.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja had figures of 4-50.
South Africa fought back on day two after being bowled out for 159 on Friday after winning the toss and electing to bat.
They dismissed India for 189 on Saturday to keep the deficit at 30 before again faltering in their batting.
The second Test starts on Saturday in Guwahati.
a href=”https://www.geo.tv/latest/633881-harmer-stars-as-south-africa-bowl-out-india-for-93-to-win-test”>Source link
