South Africa beat India in 1st Test by 30 runs
Eden Gardens, more than 40,000 fans held their breath. India needed just 124 runs to win the first Test. But on the treacherous pitch in Kolkata, where the ball spun so much it was scary to watch, even this modest goal turned into an impossible task. And the almost impossible happened: South Africa beat India in 1st Test by 30 runs.
A historic breakthrough and a captain’s role
It wasn’t just a victory. It was a bolt from the blue. For the first time since 2010, the Proteas were able to beat India in a Test match on their soil. And they did it with such character that all doubts about their title of world champions simply disappeared. Temba Bavuma’s team came to India with a clear goal – to prove their previous triumph wasn’t a fluke. And they did it. South Africa beat India in the first Test by 30 runs, in just three days.
So what happened? The match was a real battle of bowlers, where every run was won with a fight. Look at the numbers: in the first innings, South Africa scored 159, India replied with 189. It seemed the hosts had gained a small advantage. But in the second innings, the South Africans seemed to be heading for the abyss – 91 for 7.
It was then that captain Bavuma showed what he was capable of. His 55 runs on this difficult pitch were a true masterpiece of endurance and skill. It was the only half-century of the match and it pulled the team out of the abyss, setting India a target of 124 runs.
South Africa beat India in 1st Test by 30 runs: inning defeat of India
But the main hero of the match where South Africa beat India in 1st Test by 30 runs was, without a doubt, off-spinner Simon Harmer. His total of 8 wickets in the match (4/30 and 4/21) simply crushed the Indian innings. Imagine the tension: India started the chase and immediately found themselves in a terrifying position, 1 run for 2 wickets. Opening batsmen Yashwasi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were out almost immediately. And then Harmer and his partners methodically took out one batsman after another. Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel fell before they could gain speed.
Washington Sundar (31) and Ravindra Jadeja (18) tried to stabilize the game by adding 26 runs. But Harmer was ruthless again. Then there was a brief moment of madness – Axar Patel (26 off 17 balls) started hitting left and right, hitting two sixes and a four in just a few deliveries.
But cricket is a cruel game. Axar Patel’s attempt to send another ball out of bounds ended with captain Bavuma, running as a substitute, making an incredible catch. This moment put an end to the match. Keshav Maharaj took the next wicket, and India were bowled out for 93 runs.
The situation for the hosts was made worse by the absence of their captain Shubman Gill, who suffered neck spasms and was unable to bat in the second innings. This, of course, is no excuse, but it is an important detail that influenced the balance of power.
After the match, Bavuma smiled and admitted that his team had beaten India at its own game. ” We knew the pitch would favor bowlers, so it didn’t surprise us,” he said. That’s the thing about great teams: they rise to the challenge and use the conditions to their advantage.
South Africa beat India in 1st Test by 30 runs and this victory not only moved them into second place in the ICC World Test Championship table. It also sent a clear signal to the entire cricket world. All eyes now turn to Guwahati, where the second Test begins on November 22. Then we will find out whether India can take revenge.
