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Harmer, Bavuma create history with stunning 30-run victory v India

cricket16 November 2025 09:42| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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Temba Bavuma’s fighting half century gave South Africa an outside chance of victory but magnificent bowling, led by Simon Harmer, ensured that one of the most unlikely wins in South Africa’s history was completed as India were bowled out for 93 to lose the first test at Eden Gardens by 30-runs on Sunday.

Harmer claimed 4-21 and fellow spinner, Keshav Maharaj, took the last two wickets to finish with 2-37 after Marco Jansen (2-15) had taken the first two as India, in pursuit of just 124 for victory, were stunned by their first loss to South Africa on home soil for 15 years.

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Offspinner Harmer, whose match haul of 8-51 were the best by a South African in India and earned him the player-of-the-match award, was in imperious form although he owed the first of his wickets to a batting error when Druv Jurel (13) pulled a rare short ball straight to Corbin Bosch on the deep midwicket boundary.

Rishabh Pant (2) drove a return catch to the bowler and Ravindra Jadeja (18) was trapped lbw and the nerves began to take hold when the key wicket of top-scorer, Washington Sundar (31), was claimed by Aiden Markram after an inspirational and brave bowling change by Bavuma. Sundar edged to slip where, appropriately, Harmer held the catch.

Jansen removed both openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1) courtesy of catches to ‘keeper Kyle Verreynne to leave the innings staggering on 10-2 at lunch with captain Shubman Gill absent injured leaving the home side effectively 10-3.

It all ended in dramatic fashion after Harmer trapped Kuldeep Yadav (1) lbw leaving the score on 77-7 with just notorious tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj to come.

Bavuma, again bravely, reintroduced Keshav Maharaj to the attack and the last recognised batsmen, Axar Patel, launched a ‘death or glory’ attack smashing two sixes and a four off the first four balls before top-edging another big hit high into the setting sun. Bavuma, held a magnificent running catch and Axar was gone for 26 from 17 balls.

Maharaj had Siraj caught off the final ball of the 35th over and victory was secured.

Earlier Bavuma scored the only half century of the match to give South Africa a fighting chance after resuming on 29 with the overnight score 93-7. The eighth wicket partnership with Corbin Bosch grew to 44 and the lead swelled from just 63 to 105 before India finally made a breakthrough with Bumrah hitting the top of Bosch’s off-stump with a delivery which kept low.

Allrounder Bosch cut wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for four and drove him over long on for six during his doughty 25 from 37 balls while Bavuma chipped and chiselled away at the bowling as India became increasingly frustrated until Bumrah’s strike.

Harmer (7) added a further 18 runs with Bavuma for the ninth wicket but the belated introduction of seamer Siraj (2-0-2-2) to the attack ended the innings quickly with Harmer playing no shot to a ball which crashed into his off stump and last man, Maharaj, trapped lbw for a third ball duck.

Bavuma was left unbeaten on 55, an innings of the highest quality and potentially as important as any of his four test centuries. He faced 136 balls and collected just four boundaries but there is no measure for tenacity and determination.

INDIA: Yashasvi Jaiswl, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wkt), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj.

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