Off-spinner Simon Harmer bowled South Africa to their first Test win in India for 15 years after home captain Shubman Gill was hospitalised with neck spasms and unable to bat as India crumbled chasing 124 on day three in Kolkata. Harmer followed his first-innings 4-30 with 4-21 to finish the match, India 93 all out and beaten by 30 runs after a brief, boundary-laden cameo from Axar Patel (26 off 17) threatened a late escape from 77-7.
Axar launched two sixes and a four off Keshav Maharaj in the 35th over but holed out attempting another big hit, with South Africa captain Temba Bavuma taking a superb running catch; Maharaj then dismissed Mohammed Siraj next ball to seal victory.
The Proteas had lost seven and drawn one of their previous eight Tests in India since their only other win in 2010, and needed just nine wickets in this two-match series after Gill retired hurt three balls into his second-innings knock on day two, having swept Harmer to the boundary before leaving the field.
Rishabh Pant led India in the chase, while Bavuma’s unbeaten 55— the only fifty of the match— and Corbin Bosch’s 25 had earlier steered South Africa from 91-7 to 153 all out in the tourists’ second innings. South Africa were bowled out for 159 in their first innings, India replying with 189.
Bavuma celebrated his 10th win in 11 Tests as captain as Harmer, Marco Jansen (2-15) and Keshav Maharaj (2-37) ripped through India at Eden Gardens. India slumped to 1-2 and 38-4 in the chase after Jansen removed openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1) and Harmer claimed Pant (2) and Dhruv Jurel (13). Harmer then trapped Ravindra Jadeja lbw, caught Washington Sundar at slip, and had Kuldeep Yadav lbw to finish a match-winning spell.
Axar’s late flourish briefly raised hopes for India, but Maharaj had the final say. South Africa now seek only a second Test series win in India and a first since 2000. The two-Test series concludes in Guwahati from November 22-26 and will be followed by three ODIs and five T20 internationals.