The first match of the two-match Test series between India and South Africa was played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. South Africa won the match by 30 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the Test series. Spinner Simon Harmer played a key role in South Africa’s victory. With his superb bowling, he not only led his team to victory but also etched his name in the record books.
One match enough for Simon Harmer to creat history
In fact, in the first match of the two-match Test series against the hosts, Simon Harmer troubled the Indian batsmen a lot with his brilliant bowling. With this, he became South Africa’s most successful spinner in Test cricket in India. Right-arm off-spinner Harmer broke the joint record of Paul Adams and Imran Tahir (14 wickets) by having Dhruv Jurel caught by Corbin Bosch at deep midwicket on the third day. Now, his total wickets in three matches on Indian soil have reached 18. Simon Harmer was named Player of the Match for his important contribution in South Africa’s victory.
India scored 189 runs in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 159 to take a lead. In the second innings, the visitors scored 153 runs, setting India a target of 124 to win the first Test. Like the first, Simon Harmer bowled brilliantly in the second innings.
Playing only his third Test in India, Simon Harmer took four more wickets in India’s second innings, dismissing Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, and Kuldeep Yadav. This resulted in India being bowled out for 93 runs in the second innings, and South Africa winning the first Test by 30 runs. This was South Africa’s first win in India since 2010.
Harmer also took four wickets in the first innings, taking his total to eight in the match. The 36-year-old also played two Tests in India in 2015, in Mohali and Nagpur, where he took a total of 10 wickets.