India suffered another ignominious defeat in under a year at home as they lost the first Test against South Africa by 30 runs, failing to chase down a 124-run target on day 3 at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
On a ragged pitch that has sported variable and uneven bounce aplenty across the 22 yards, India’s bowlers were frustrated by a vital partnership between South Africa captain Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch on the third morning. The 44-run association ensured that India had to chase a three-figure score, leaving enough for the Proteas to make a match of it in the final innings. By the time India had managed to eke out three wickets, Bavuma’s unbeaten 55 had ushered a 123-run lead.
FOLLOW: IND vs SA 1st Test Day 3 Highlights
India’s chase began virtually with a wicket down already as captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the match ahead of the day’s play, after having suffered a severe neck spasm on Day 2, three balls into his innings. The start was further jolted with the early loss of openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1) to left-arm seamer Marco Jansen.
The middle-order was then subjected to a stern test by the spinners on a surface that has played devilish tricks in the minds of the batters. Tall off-spinner Simon Harmer dismissed Dhruv Jurel with a long hop dished to the deep mid-wicket fielder before proceeding to dismiss stand-in captain Rishabh Pant early for two runs. Harmer then fired in a 91kph yorker to trap Ravindra Jadeja lbw.
Number three Washington Sundar, who adeptly blocked out as many deliveries as possible, ran out of steam and stoicism when Bavuma turned to part-timer Aiden Markram, the offie finding a faint outside edge to the first-slip fielder. M
Axar teases and falls
Throwing a bait with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj almost proved to be a decisive blow for the Proteas when Axar Patel smashed the first boundary after a lull of 72 deliveries and tonked a six and a four in succession. Maharaj floated another delivery outside off-stump and Axar’s mistimed slog was pouched by Bavuma. Maharaj proceeded to induce a thick edge off Mohammed Siraj off the very next delivery to power South Africa through to their first Test win in India in 15 years and take ample momentum into the second Test, starting in Guwahati, on Saturday.
India’s dubious Test chasing record at home
The loss marked India’s second loss under coach Gautam Gambhir in a Test match at home while chasing under 150 runs. No other team has lost even once at home while pursuing a target in under 150 in the 21st century.
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Last year, New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 whitewash over India when they denied the hosts a 147-run chase at the Wankhede Stadium, losing by 25 runs.
India also hold a mixed chasing record at home, having only won once before chasing a three-figure score in 13 chases at the venue.
