Spinner Simon Harmer took six wickets. South Africa thrashed India by 408 runs in the second Test on Wednesday. This victory allowed them to sweep the series and condemn the hosts to a record loss.
It was South Africa’s first series win in India in 25 years. They bowled the home team out for a dismal 140. This was during a mammoth chase of 549 on day five in Guwahati.
India suffered their biggest Test defeat by runs. It was also their fifth loss in seven home Tests. They were whitewashed 3-0 by New Zealand last year.
Off-spinner Harmer, 36, returned figures of 6-37. South Africa clinched a Test series in India for only the second time. The first was in 2000 under Hansie Cronje.
“Winning a Test match and series in India is very special,” said left-arm quick Marco Jansen. He returned figures of 6-48 in India’s first innings. This came after he smashed a quickfire 93 with the bat.
Jansen, named player of the match, added: “Very well done to everyone. Thank you for putting your hand up. You made this happen.”
India lost the opening Test in Kolkata inside three days. The pitch had uneven bounce. South Africa then beat the hosts again at their own game of spin on a batting-friendly track.
Ravindra Jadeja resisted with 54. Keshav Maharaj then had him stumped. The spinner soon got the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj. Jansen pulled off a stunning catch in the deep.
The visitors declared their second innings on 260-5 on day four. This gave India a record chase. However, the hosts’ batting failed once again. They never threatened to get close.
“Whether you’re playing at home or away cricket demands that determination and the extra effort,” said India captain Rishabh Pant.
“As a batting unit you need to capitalise on certain moments. As a team we didn’t do that.”
India rode their luck early in the day. Jansen had Sai Sudharsan caught behind, but the delivery was declared a no-ball. The bowler had overstepped. The batter was on four.
In the next over Kuldeep Yadav survived a reprieve on four when Aiden Markram dropped him at first slip off Harmer.
But the relief was short-lived for India as a relentless Harmer bowled Kuldeep for five for the first wicket of the day.
Three balls later the spinner dismissed Dhruv Jurel for two and soon sent back Pant for 13 as India slumped to 58-5.
The batters fell like nine pins on a pitch where South Africa posted 489 after they elected to bat.
India were bundled out for 201. They conceded a first-innings lead of 288. South Africa did not enforce the follow-on. They decided to bat again.
South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy led the batting charge in the first innings with 109, his maiden Test century.
The Author
Discover more from News Network Plus
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
