Harmer’s six wickets give India their biggest Test loss as South Africa win 2–0

Harmer’s six wickets give India their biggest Test loss as South Africa win 2–0

2nd Test: Off-spinner Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-37 and India crashed to be 140 all out in its second innings to lose the match on the final day. South Africa has clinched its first Test series win in India in 25 years with a crushing 408-run win in the second Test, claiming a 2-0 series sweep.

South Africa finished their tour by completely beating India 2-0, giving India their biggest Test loss by runs. The stadium was almost empty as South Africa won their first Test series in India in 25 years. This was also India’s second home series loss in a year, after more than a decade of never losing at home.

Simon Harmer was the star. He bowled much better than India’s spinners and took 17 wickets at a very cheap average. This is now the best bowling performance ever in a Test series in India. Marco Jansen also did well with 12 wickets and took an amazing one-handed, diving catch.

India never expected things to go this badly. Before the series, Shubman Gill joked about his bad luck with tosses, but then he got injured quickly, and India lost both Tests. India now have only 48% points in the World Test Championship and will need a big improvement to reach the final.

South Africa, the defending champions, now have 75% of their points. Their captain, Temba Bavuma, still hasn’t lost a Test as captain after 12 matches.

By halfway through the last Test, it was clear South Africa were going to win. On the final day, they needed eight wickets to get full WTC points. The pitch was turning normally, and South Africa used it perfectly.

Harmer and Jansen were too good for India. Overnight batters Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav had some early luck, with a no-ball and a dropped catch saving them. But that didn’t last long.

Soon, Harmer bowled Kuldeep with a ball that didn’t turn. Then he removed Jurel with his drift. He also got Rishabh Pant, who simply defended a slow ball that bounced extra and went to slip.

Sai Sudharsan survived one more drop and batted with Jadeja until tea. But right after the break, he got out to Muthusamy, with Markram taking yet another catch.

After a short rest, Harmer came back and quickly dismissed Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Markram took sharp catches and even broke the world record for most catches in a Test match.

Right-hand batters struggled because Harmer could get them bowled, caught behind, or caught at short leg. Reddy gloved a reverse sweep and gave Harmer his best match figures in India.

Jadeja was the only Indian batter who played the sweep well. He made a fifty and didn’t celebrate because the team was in trouble. He was later stumped trying to attack Maharaj.

The final moment went to Jansen. He had already scored important runs earlier and used his height well during the match. To finish the series, he took an unbelievable running, diving catch to end the match and seal the 2-0 win for South Africa.
 

Brief score:

South Africa: 489/10 & 260/5d
India: 201/10 & 140/10
South Africa won by 408 runs

Player of the match: Marco Jansen (93 runs, 7 wickets)

Player of the series: Simon Harmer (17 wickets)