South Africa won against India by 30 runs

South Africa won against India by 30 runs test match

🇿🇦 South Africa (2nd Innings) – The Decisive Knock (south Africa won)

India 4th Innings (Target: 124 Runs)

SA Win by 30 Runs

In a match that turned the clock back to the days of challenging, low-scoring Test match warfare, South Africa secured a famous 30-run victory over India in the opening Test at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The three-day spectacle was dominated by the ball, with bowlers from both sides exploiting a turning pitch that offered relentless assistance.

Chasing a seemingly modest target of just 124 runs, the Indian batting line-up crumbled under the pressure of the fourth innings and the wizardry of the South African spin attack, ultimately being dismissed for a mere 93 runs. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Proteas, delivering their first Test win in India in over 15 years.

The Bowler’s Paradise

The contest was decided not by big centuries, but by crucial spells and gritty partnerships. After winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa were bundled out for 159 in their first innings. The pace and precision of India’s attack, led by the outstanding Jasprit Bumrah (5/27), dismantled the Proteas despite a solid start by their openers.

India, however, could only manage a slender 30-run lead, being dismissed for 189. This innings was characterized by a hard-fought 39 from KL Rahul and the absence of captain Shubman Gill, who was ruled out of the rest of the match with a neck injury sustained early on, forcing India to operate with one less available batter. The bulk of the damage for South Africa was done by spinner Simon Harmer (4/30) and the relentless pressure of pacer Marco Jansen (3/35).

Temba Bavuma’s Defining Resistance

The second innings proved to be the pivotal shift. India’s spinners, led by Ravindra Jadeja (4/50) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/30), scythed through the South African top order, reducing them to a perilous 93 for 7 by the close of day two. It was here that captain Temba Bavuma produced the defining knock of the match.

Holding one end with immense patience and immaculate technique, Bavuma compiled a heroic, unbeaten 55 runs off 136 balls. Supported by contributions from the lower order, including a vital 25 from Corbin Bosch, Bavuma’s resistance propelled the Proteas to a total of 153 and, critically, pushed the target to a competitive 124. His innings stood as a clear rebuttal to the challenging conditions and provided his bowlers with just enough runs to defend.

The Fourth-Innings Collapse

The stage was set for India to complete a relatively swift chase on the third day. However, South Africa’s bowlers, smelling victory, executed their plans with clinical precision. The tall left-arm pacer Marco Jansen delivered two devastating early blows, removing openers Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck and KL Rahul for one, reducing India to 1/2. With Shubman Gill unable to bat, the scoreboard effectively read 1/3.

The pressure never lifted. Harmer, the first-innings wrecker, and the left-arm orthodox Keshav Maharaj exploited the prodigious turn and low bounce, choking the Indian middle-order. Despite a spirited 31 from Washington Sundar and a late dash of intent by Axar Patel (26 off 17), no substantial partnership could be forged. Harmer and Maharaj ran through the remainder of the line-up, as India found themselves unable to handle the spin.

The final wicket fell when Mohammed Siraj edged Keshav Maharaj to Aiden Markram in the slips, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Proteas camp. South Africa’s bowlers had masterfully defended the target, sealing a hard-earned 30-run win and taking a crucial lead in the series. This gritty performance will be remembered for Bavuma’s captain’s knock and the relentless pressure applied by the South African spinners on a pitch where every run was a battle.

South Africa won against India by 30 runs