Bavuma bhi toh he! Short and sweet win for South Africa against India at Eden Gardens

South Africa lived up to their tag as World Test champions by defeating India on the third day of the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

Skipper Temba Bavuma led from the front with an unbeaten 55 as the visitors made a modest 153, setting India a tricky target of 124. But India, without their captain Shubman Gill, who sustained a neck injury and did not bat, could only make 93, losing by 30 runs.

Simon Harmer was the pick of the South African bowlers, claiming 4/21, while Keshav Maharaj, the only other specialist spinner in the visiting side, bagged 2/27.

Marco Jansen, who removed openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and K L Rahul (1), gave the Proteas a dream start before the spinners took control. Washington Sundar's fighting 92-ball 31 was ended by part-timer Aiden Markram by forcing an edge taken at first slip by Harmer.

Axar Patel had a go at Maharaj after India had slumped to 77/7, needing 47. His counter-attack fetched 16 off just four deliveries, including a boundary and two sixes. But Patel (26) skied a fourth attempt, gifting a good catch to Bavuma. Mohammed Siraj fell in the next ball, edging to the slip, and India's defeat was sealed.

India had taken a 30-run lead in the first innings after Jasprit Bumrah's 5/27 reduced the visitors to 159. The match was marred by a controversy as the stump mic caught Bumrah and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant allegedly using a derogatory term to refer to Bavuma over his short stature.

The second match of the series will begin in Guwahati on November 22.

Brief scores: South Africa 159 & 153 in 54 overs (Bavuma 55 not out, Corbin Bosch 25, Ravindra Jadeja 4/50, Mohammed Siraj 2/2, Kuldeep Yadav 2/30) bt India 189 & 93 in 35 overs (Washington Sundar 31, Axar Patel 26, Simon Harmer 4/21, Marco Jansen 2/15, Keshav Maharaj 2/37)