South Africa Stuns India, Smashes 53-Year Eden Gardens Record in Thrilling First Test
Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): South Africa won a low-scoring Test match against India at Eden Gardens by 30 runs. With this, the visiting team has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second match of the series will be played in Guwahati from November 22.
India were set a target of 124 runs in the second innings, but managed only 93. Captain Gill did not bat in the second innings due to a neck injury.
South Africa, who won the toss and opted to bat, were all out for 159 in their first innings. Aiden Markram scored 31, while Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi made 24 each.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah took the maximum of 5 wickets, while Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets each.
In reply, India were bundled out for just 189 in the first innings. KL Rahul top-scored with 39, while Washington Sundar added 29.
Simon Harmer took four wickets for South Africa, while Marco Jansen took three wickets.
India had a mere 30-run lead based on their first innings. In the second innings, captain Temba Bavuma came in at number four and scored an unbeaten 55 off 136 balls, including four fours, but no batsman could support him at the other end. The South African team was bowled out for just 153 in the second innings.
Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets in this innings, while Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj took two wickets each.
Before the start of the third day, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had made it clear that captain Shubman Gill would not play the remainder of the match due to a neck injury. Consequently, KL Rahul came on as openers alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, but the partnership was broken on the fourth ball. Jaiswal returned to the pavilion without scoring. By the third over, KL Rahul (1) was also out.
From here, Washington Sundar tried to handle the team by making a partnership of 32 runs for the third wicket with Dhruv Jurel, but as soon as the partnership broke, the host team faltered again.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel scored 26 runs off 17 balls, hitting two sixes and one four. He hit three boundaries in the 35th over, but could not lead his team to victory.
Simon Harmer took the most wickets for South Africa with four, while Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj took two each. Aiden Markram took one wicket.