India added another inglorious chapter to their string of recent home failures on Sunday, slumping to one of their most embarrassing defeats after failing to chase down 124 on an admittedly imperfect surface at Eden Gardens.
Having begun the third day of the first Test well placed to translate their dominance to a 1-0 lead, India’s challenge unravelled dramatically in front of a shell-shocked audience as they keeled over for 93 to go down by 30 runs. South Africa, led by magnificent captain Temba Bavuma, never gave up, but even they will admit to pleasant surprise at India’s abject capitulation, in only 149 minutes and 35 overs.
SA spinner Simon Harmer celebrates the wicket of Rishabh Pant on Sunday
Bavuma’s unbeaten 55, a masterclass in concentration, studied defence and supreme patience, ought to have been the blueprint for India’s batters to emulate. The skipper added 44 for the eighth wicket with Corbin Bosch when the visitors resumed on 93 for seven, just 60 ahead, a partnership during which the treacherous surface seemed to have gone to sleep.
Siraj’s late strike
Rishabh Pant, leading in the injured Shubman Gill’s absence, studiously ignored Mohammed Siraj until the 52nd over, then watched sheepishly as the Hyderabadi took two wickets in four deliveries in his second over to eventually end the Protean resistance at 153. While it was perhaps 30 more than India would have liked, they would have fancied a crack at 124 despite the twin threats of Simon Harmer, the off-spinner, and his left-arm comrade Keshav Maharaj.
In the 29 minutes to lunch, India were rocked by Marco Jansen, the six-foot-eight left-arm quick. Jansen needed a mere four deliveries for his opening statement when he forced Yashasvi Jaiswal, whom he had consumed in the first innings too, to nick to Kyle Verreynne behind the stumps. Three balls later, the same combo was in business when Jansen forced KL Rahul to attempt an ambitious backfoot punch to a ball that got big on him.
Jurel throws it away
Washington Sundar, slipping superbly into his role at No. 3, and Dhruv Jurel rode the punches in adding 32 when, without warning, Jurel threw his hand away. His eyes lighting up at a rare long-hop from Harmer, he tried a glory shot that landed in the hands of deep mid-wicket, sending waves of unease in the Indian camp.
India have had their problems against overseas left-arm spinners — Michael Clarke, Monty Panesar, Steve O’Keefe, Tom Hartley, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel — but this time, an off-spinner was their nemesis. Harmer had taken 4-30 in the first innings, and he backed it up with 4-21 on his way to the Player of the Match honours, his relentless accuracy giving India’s crease-tied batters no respite.
Pant was edgy during his brief stay, while Ravindra Jadeja’s enterprise was ended by a full ball from Harmer, who relished a go at the plethora of left-handers (six) in the Indian top eight. Aiden Markram produced a beauty to finally snap Sundar’s admirable 92-ball resistance, and Bavuma took a stunning catch, running back from mid-wicket, to get rid of Axar Patel, India’s last bastion of hope.
Siraj’s dismissal at the stroke of tea gave Bavuma a staggering 10th win in 11 games as captain, while India slipped to a fourth home loss in their last six Tests.
Zero
No. of games South Africa have lost under Temba Bavuma’s captaincy. He has led the Proteas in 11 matches, winning 10 and one being a draw
Brief scores
SA 159 & 153 (T Bavuma 55*; R Jadeja 4-50, K Yadav 2-30, M Siraj 2-2) beat India 189 & 93 (W Sundar 31; S Harmer 4-21, M Jansen 2-15, K Maharaj 2-37) by 30 runs