South Africa sprung out of the grave to stun India by 30 runs in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, successfully defending a target of just 124 to take the series lead. The victory marks South Africa's first Test win on Indian soil in 15 years, concluding a tight match where extravagant sideways movement and variable bounce made scoring difficult for both sides.
The win was built on a memorable half-century from captain Temba Bavuma on the spinning Eden pitch, and a magnificent bowling effort. Bavuma’s knock was the highest score of the match, proving pivotal as he guided the Proteas to a lead of 124 runs, aided by a 44-run partnership with Corbin Bosch on Day 3. The South African skipper, who also took a crucial catch to dismiss Axar Patel, celebrates his 10th win in 11 matches as captain, a remarkable run stretching back to the successful World Test Championship 2023-25 campaign.
The bowling attack was spearheaded by off-spinner Simon Harmer, who delivered a match-winning performance. Harmer claimed his second four-wicket haul of the match, out-bowling the Indian spin quartet on a treacherous wicket that offered uneven bounce. Harmer's consistent pressure proved too much for the Indian batters, who eventually rolled over for just 93 runs in the fourth innings.
The Indian chase was hampered by the absence of captain Shubman Gill, who was ruled out of the remainder of the match after suffering a neck injury on Day 2. The pressure intensified as the target of 124 became progressively trickier.
While Axar Patel briefly provided hope by hammering 16 runs off four balls, he eventually misjudged a slog sweep off Keshav Maharaj and was caught by a sprinting Bavuma. Maharaj claimed the final two wickets, with Mohammed Siraj edging the last ball to Aiden Markram at slip to seal the famous victory.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma reflected on the thrilling, low-scoring contest, praising his bowlers' resilience: "It was tough for us and we needed the bowlers to bring us back in. We were able to change our bowlers frequently and that worked for us."
He added that achieving the win while defending a small total was a huge morale booster: "It is not all the time that you score 120 and believe you are in the game." The captain also credited the partnership with Bosch as a crucial turning point, which helped swell their lead.
Despite the loss, India's vice-captain Rishabh Pant acknowledged the pressure and the role of the pitch: "A score of 120 can be tricky on these surfaces. But having said that, we should be able to soak in the pressure and capitalise." The result hands South Africa a 1-0 series lead, ensuring the winner of this match cannot lose the two-Test series.
