South Africa´s Simon Harmer (R) celebrates with teammate after taking the wicket of India’s Dhruv Jurel throughout the third day of the primary Check cricket match between India and South Africa on the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16, 2025. — AFP
KOLKATA: Spinner Simon Harmer claimed a match haul of eight wickets to steer South Africa to an exciting 30-run win over India inside three days of a low-scoring opening Check on Sunday.
India, with out captain and main batsman Shubman Gill who was dominated out due to a neck damage he suffered on Saturday, faltered of their chase of 124 to be bowled out for 93 in Kolkata.
Harmer, who had figures of 4-30 within the first Indian innings, struck key blows within the second session together with getting Rishabh Pant caught and bowled for 2 to dent the opposition chase.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj struck twice in two balls to pack off India and set off wild celebrations within the South African camp with the reigning world Check champions taking a 1-0 lead within the two-match collection.
Washington Sundar tried to anchor the chase however fell to Aiden Markram’s off-spin for 31.
Axar Patel gave the gang some cheer together with his two sixes off Maharaj earlier than the bowler had his revenge to ship the batter caught out for 26 off 17 balls.
Tempo spearhead Marco Jansen ripped out the Indian openers earlier than lunch with the hosts successfully 10-3 within the absence of Gill, who’s in hospital and “under observation”, on the break and Harmer quickly took cost.
Jansen in his first over received the left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal to nick a size supply to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, who then took a diving catch to dismiss Rahul.
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma hit a defiant 55 not out in his group’s second innings whole of 153.
Bavuma performed a defiant knock to maintain South Africa within the hunt after they resumed on 93-7 on a troublesome pitch with inconsistent bounce.
He began the day on 29 and performed with grit to finish the primary half-century of a low-scoring contest.
Bavuma’s 44-run eighth-wicket stand with in a single day accomplice Corbin Bosch annoyed the Indian bowlers till tempo spearhead Jasprit Bumrah broke by means of.
Bumrah bowled Bosch for 25 earlier than Bavuma reached his fifty in 122 balls, elevating his bat to an applauding dressing room.
Quick bowler Mohammed Siraj shattered Harmer’s stumps for seven and eliminated final man Keshav Maharaj for a duck within the house of 4 balls as Bavuma ran out of companions.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja had figures 4-50.
South Africa fought again on day two after being all out for 159 on Friday after profitable the toss and electing to bat.
They dismissed India for 189 on Saturday to maintain the deficit to 30 earlier than once more faltering of their batting.
The second Check begins Saturday in Guwahati.
