Off-spinner Simon Harmer bowled South Africa to a primary Check win in India in 15 years after residence skipper Shubman Gill was hospitalised with neck spams and unable to bat as his aspect crumbled chasing 124 for victory on day three in Kolkata.
Harmer adopted his first-innings 4-30 with 4-21 throughout a dramatic conclusion to a low-scoring sequence opener, with India 93 all out and shedding by 30 runs after a quick boundary-laden cameo from Axar Patel (26 off 17 balls) had threatened a heist from 77-7.
Axar pumped Harmer’s fellow spinner Keshav Maharaj for 2 sixes and a 4 throughout the primary 4 balls of the thirty fifth over, solely to then gap out making an attempt one other large hit – South Africa captain Temba Bavuma taking an excellent catch on the run – earlier than Maharaj dismissed Mohammed Siraj subsequent ball to safe victory.
The Proteas had misplaced seven and drawn one among their earlier eight Checks in India since profitable by an innings in Nagpur in 2010.
South Africa solely wanted 9 wickets to take a 1-0 lead on this two-match sequence with Gill taking no additional half within the recreation having retired damage simply three balls into his innings on day two shortly after sweeping Harmer to the boundary.
Bavuma extends stellar report as South Africa captain
Rishabh Pant led India within the Proteas’ second innings, wherein the vacationers rallied from 91-7 to 153 all out in a bowler-dominated contest, due to Bavuma (55no) – who scored the one half-century within the match for both aspect – and Corbin Bosch (25).
South Africa had been rolled for 159 of their first innings earlier than India countered with simply 189.
Bavuma went on to have a good time his tenth win in 11 Checks as captain as Harmer, Marco Jansen (2-15) and Maharaj (2-37) ripped via the house aspect at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
India slumped to 1-2 and 38-4 as seamer Jansen nicked off openers Yashashi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1) and Harmer dismissed Pant (2) and Dhruv Jurel (13).
Harmer then struck once more, pinning Ravindra Jadeja (18) lbw after a stand of 26 with Washington Sundar (31) earlier than catching Washington off Aiden Markram (1-5) at first slip after which trapping Kuldeep Yadav (1) lbw.
Axar’s dashing knock might have given the away aspect just a few jitters however Maharaj had the ultimate say, with South Africa now eyeing only a second sequence win in India within the Check format and a primary since a 2-0 victory in 2000 once they triumphed in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The 2-Check sequence, which concludes in Guwahati from November 22-26, is adopted by a three-match one-day worldwide sequence after which 5 T20 internationals.