Harmer’s six-for hands India their biggest Test defeat

South Africa 489 (Muthusamy 109, Jansen 93, Kuldeep 4-115) and 260 for 5 decl. (Stubbs 94, de Zorzi 49, Jadeja 4-62) beat India 201 (Jaiswal 58, Washington 48, Jansen 6-48) and 140 (Jadeja 54, Harmer 6-37) by 408 runs

In front of empty stands at India’s newest Test venue, South Africa completed their utter domination of the hosts with a whitewash and inflicted India’s heaviest Test defeat in terms of runs. More than just the order of session breaks was turned upside down at India’s easternmost Test ground, where South Africa sealed their first series win in the country in 25 years and handed India their second series defeat in 12 months, ending a previously spotless 12-year record at home.

Simon Harmer out-bowled the home spinners by a distance in a country where his modest 2015 tour was followed by a seven-year absence from Test cricket. No one has taken more wickets at a better average in a series in India than his 17 at 8.94. Marco Jansen, slightly behind with 12 at 10.08, ended the series with yet another moment that could only be described as, “only Marco could have done that” — a sensational over-the-shoulder, one-handed diving catch while running back. Harmer is unlikely to complain about being denied a maiden 10-for by such brilliance.

This was the furthest result from India’s minds when Shubman Gill joked after losing yet another toss in Kolkata that he might only win one in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Since then, India have lost Gill to injury three balls into his spell, and then both Tests, leaving themselves with a steep climb if they are to keep their WTC final hopes alive. They now have 48.15 per cent of points halfway through their league matches; historically, at least 60% has been needed to reach the final.

The defending champions, who endured some elitist sniggering about their schedule in the previous cycle, now hold 75 per cent of their points. Temba Bavuma, the captain who claimed the mace, remains unbeaten after 12 matches in charge.

That Bavuma would not lose this one became clear midway through this Test. From then on, South Africa played India out of the contest with ruthless efficiency and began the fifth day needing eight wickets to secure the full 12 WTC points. This classic Indian Test surface was now offering consistent turn and natural variation.

A combination of Harmer and Jansen — who took a five-for and scored 93 in the first innings — was always going to test India’s resolve to bat out the day. Overnight batters B Sai Sudharsan and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav enjoyed some luck, with a wicket overturned on a no-ball and another dropped at slip by Aiden Markram, who had claimed five catches in the first innings.

The luck ran out about half an hour into the morning. It always felt like only a matter of time against Harmer’s craft and persistence. Kuldeep was the first to fall, bowled by an offbreak that did not turn. You cannot truly make an offbreak not turn, but you can give it every chance to behave unpredictably by altering the seam position — which Harmer did.

In the same over, Harmer completed the offspinner’s dream brace. Having bowled KL Rahul through the gate on the fourth evening, he now took Dhruv Jurel’s outside edge with drift and less turn than anticipated.

Rishabh Pant is often criticised for taking too many risks, but this innings told a different story. Against a particularly slow offbreak from Harmer, Pant became a sitting duck the moment he committed to a forward defensive. The extra bounce took the edge to Markram at slip, who was rapidly closing in on the world record for the most catches in a match.

Sai Sudharsan survived another drop as he and Ravindra Jadeja took India to tea. His luck finally ended in the first over after the break, with Harmer briefly rested after bowling through the entire first session. Sai Sudharsan defended a half-volley from Senuram Muthusamy that held its line, and Markram took another catch.

Refreshed, Harmer returned from the opposite end and removed Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy in quick succession. With a softer ball, he bowled quicker, taking Washington’s edge with a 90 km/h offbreak. Markram pouched a sharp catch to surpass Ajinkya Rahane’s world record of eight in a match.

India’s right-handers were always going to struggle, with three modes of dismissal constantly in play: bowled through the gate, outside edge, and bat-pad. Reddy gloved a reverse sweep, giving Harmer his best match figures and making him South Africa’s most successful bowler in India, as well as their most prolific after 14 Tests.

Jadeja was the one India batter who swept effectively from the troublesome length. He made a consolatory half-century, sensibly ditching his sword celebration, and was eventually stumped attempting to take on Keshav Maharaj.

Fittingly, the final moment belonged to Jansen. He scored vital runs when India still controlled South Africa’s first-innings scoring, at a time when no one else looked capable of dominating the bowling. His long levers, which gave him that scoring ability, also brought about the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first innings — India’s only half-centurion. On a flat pitch, he then unleashed bouncers, taking more wickets with short balls in an innings in India than any bowler before him.

By the time South Africa bowled again, the pitch offered dependable turn and no longer required heroics from Jansen. But why deny the moment, when he could casually take an extraordinary catch to seal the match — and the series?

Lest we forget. (ESPNcricinfo)