Overview:
He was named the Player of the Match for his contribution in the visitors' first Test win in 15 years in India. The Proteas posted 159 and 153 while India managed 189 and 93.
South Africa registered a 30-run win over host India in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chasing 124 runs, the Indian National Cricket Team were all out for 93 in the second session of Day 3. The wicket offered a sharp turn, which was exploited by the South African spinners, with Simon Harmer taking 4 wickets each across two innings. He was named the Player of the Match for his contribution in the visitors’ first Test win in 15 years in India. The Proteas posted 159 and 153 while India managed 189 and 93.
Shubman Gill, who was injured during India’s first innings, didn’t bat, and it played a role in the sub-continent nation’s loss. Washington Sundar (31 and 29) was the best Indian batter, but his runs went in vain as the visiting team won the crunch moments.
Player of the Match
Simon Harmer proved to be the best spinner in the contest. He dismissed Sundar (29), Ravindra Jadeja (27), Dhruv Jurel (14), and Axar Patel (16) in the first essay.
In the second chance, Harmer got rid of Jurel (13), Rishabh Pant (2), Jadeja (18) and Kuldeep Yadav (1). The 36-year-old was adjudged the Player of the Match for his effort.
Top Performers
Marco Jansen – He took five wickets in the match. Marco Jansen was spot on from the start and sent back Yashasvi Jaiswal twice.
Temba Bavuma – South Africa captain scored an unbeaten 55 runs in the second innings, which proved crucial in the end. He took the most important catch in the game. Axar Patel, who scored 26 runs off 17 balls, went for a big one on Keshav Maharaj’s delivery but failed to connect it properly. Temba ran back from midwicket and took it around long-on after an impressive sprint.
Jasprit Bumrah – The Indian speedster took five wickets in the first innings and added one more to his bowling figures in the second.
Kuldeep Yadav – He bowled well in the match and picked up two wickets each across two essays.
Mohammed Siraj – The gun bowler once again impressed in the contest, taking four wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja – His two innings ( 27 and 18) and 4 wickets would have proved decisive if the top order had contributed with the bat.
Statistics
124 – South Africa defended their second-lowest target in the history of the Test format. Their lowest came against Australia when they defended 117 in Sydney in 1994.
8-51 – The 36-year-old Simon Harmer amassed the best bowling figures by the Proteas spinner in Test cricket in India, finishing with 29.2-8-51-8. He went past Paul Adams’ record of 8 for 139 from 39.1 overs in 1996.
93 – Team India recorded their lowest fourth-innings total in a Test at home, falling short of the 100-run mark, which they achieved against England in Mumbai in 2006.
10 – Temba Bavuma has become the fifth most successful Test captain of South Africa after winning 10 matches. Graeme Smith (53), Hansie Cronje (27), Faf du Plessis (18), and Shaun Pollock (14) are ahead of him.
124 – South Africa defended the second-lowest total by visitors in Test cricket in India.
124 – Team India recorded their second-lowest failed run chase in the longest format of the game. The lowest came in 1997, when they couldn’t complete a target of 120 runs against the West Indies in Bridgetown.