India vs South Africa 1st Test highlights: South Africa beat India in low-scoring thriller

The second Test will be played in Guwahati from November 22-26. It was SA's first Test win in India in 15 years.

2:09 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India lose a low-scoring thriller

Over 35 | IND 93/9 — SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 30 RUNS

Axar 26(17), Siraj 0(1), Bumrah 0(4)*

Maharaj 9-1-37-2

 

What an over! Fireworks, drama, and finally two wickets in two balls as South Africa seal a famous win in Kolkata.

 

34.1 — FOUR: Axar starts the over with a slog-sweep that isn’t middled, but Rickelton misjudges it at deep midwicket. Boundary anyway.

 

34.2 — SIX: Axar connects sweetly this time — a clean slog-sweep over deep midwicket. Eden Gardens erupts.

 

34.3 — No run: Axar chops to point, thinks of a single, Bumrah says no.

 

34.4 — SIX: Axar keeps India alive with another huge hit, this time straight over long-on. The crowd is roaring.

 

34.5 — WICKET! Maharaj gets his revenge. Axar miscues the slog-sweep and Bavuma takes a superb running catch over his shoulder at midwicket.

 

34.6 — WICKET! Two in two! Siraj edges a turning ball and Markram snaps it low at slip.

 

With Gill unavailable to bat, this wicket ends India’s innings at 93, handing South Africa victory by 30 runs in a gripping low-scoring thriller.

2:05 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: Kuldeep departs

Over 34 | IND 77/7

Axar 10(12), Bumrah 0(4)**

Harmer 14-4-21-4

 

Simon Harmer tightens his grip on the Test with another wicket in a miserly over.

 

33.1: Axar works a full ball to long-on for a single.

 

33.2: WICKET! Kuldeep is trapped plumb in front by a classic offbreak. No bat, three reds on DRS — India burn their second review and sink further.

 

Bumrah then manages to survive four probing deliveries, all dipping, drifting, and demanding defence.

 

India are 77/7, or effectively 77/8, and clinging on as Harmer continues to run riot with 4 wickets.

2:05 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 76-6

Over 33 | IND 76/6

Kuldeep 1(12), Axar 9(11)**

Markram 3-0-5-1

 

Aiden Markram keeps India under the squeeze with another tight over.

 

32.1: Absolute ripper! Markram pitches on leg, gets sharp turn, and beats Axar’s outside edge.

 

32.2: Axar chops a single to point, but hands strike to Kuldeep early in the over.

 

Kuldeep then faces four probing balls — all well-defended or wisely left as Markram tests him outside off.

 

India inch to 76/6, but South Africa are just three wickets away from sealing the match.

2:03 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 75-6 after 32 Overs

Over 32 | IND 75/6

Kuldeep 1(8), Axar 8(9)**

Harmer 13-4-20-3

A tight, probing over from Simon Harmer, who continues to operate with immaculate control.

 

 

31.1: Axar drives a full one to long-off for a single.

 

 

The rest of the over is all about Harmer testing Kuldeep with drift, dip and sharp turn.

 

 

31.5: A loud lbw shout — very similar to Jadeja’s dismissal — but this time the ball clips pad first and then the bat, saving Kuldeep.

 

 

Kuldeep sees out the remaining balls with caution, leaving wisely when Harmer drags him wide.

 

 

India fight on at 75/6, with South Africa sensing another opening.

2:02 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: Sundar departs

Over 31 | IND 74/6

Axar 7(8), Kuldeep 1(3)**

Markram 2-0-4-1

 

A massive moment in the Test as Aiden Markram strikes in this over, removing India’s most settled batter.

 

30.1: Axar starts with a driven single to long-on.

 

30.2 — WICKET! Washington Sundar edges one to slip. A beautiful offbreak from Markram that bounced a touch extra, drew Sundar forward, kissed the outer edge, and Harmer completed a sharp low catch. India lose their anchor — huge blow.

 

Kuldeep Yadav walks in and sees off two deliveries safely.

 

30.5: Kuldeep gets off the mark with a paddle sweep for a single.

 

30.6: Axar ends the over with a controlled drive for one.

 

India now 74/6, target still 85 runs away, and the pressure is squarely on the lower order.

2:01 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 71-5 after 30 Overs

Over 30 | IND 71/5

Sundar 31(91), Axar 5(6)**

Harmer 12-4-19-3

 

Another tight over from Simon Harmer, but India pick up three valuable runs.

 

29.1: Axar starts with a confident drive to long-off for a single.

 

Sundar then plays out four balls with solid defence, choosing not to chase the wider one that spun away.

 

29.6: Harmer goes wider, and Sundar takes advantage — a neat drive into the gap earns him two runs.

 

India continue to chip away, now 80 runs away from the target, with Sundar standing firm.

1:49 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 68-5 after 29 Overs

Over 29 | IND 68/5

Sundar 29(86), Axar 4(5)**

Markram 1-0-1-0

 

A tidy first over from Aiden Markram, who starts with good control and keeps India quiet.

 

28.1: Axar gets off strike with a push-driven single.

 

The rest of the over is all about Washington Sundar’s solid defence. Markram varies his pace between 80–90 kph, tossing it up and attacking the stumps, but Sundar responds with assured forward blocks and soft hands.

 

A hint of inside edge rolls to short leg, but no danger.

 

Just one run from the over as India continue to grind through this tense chase.

1:38 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: Jadeja departs

WICKET! India 67/5 — Jadeja falls, Harmer strikes again

 

Simon Harmer continues to dismantle India’s chase, removing Ravindra Jadeja lbw for 18 with a lovely dipping offbreak. Jadeja reviewed in disbelief, but ball-tracking showed three reds — smashing into the stumps. A massive moment as India slip deeper into trouble.

 

Axar Patel walked in and showed composure, collecting two with a neat flick to midwicket and another single with a push to mid-on. Washington Sundar, meanwhile, continues to stand firm but lost his partner at a crucial time.

 

Harmer finishes the over with yet another sharp stop off his own bowling.

 

India now 67/5, under serious pressure in this tense chase.

1:34 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 60 more runs to win

India move to 64/4 as Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja continue chipping away at the target.

 

A more eventful over from Keshav Maharaj this time. Sundar collected two with a firm drive to long-off — Harmer pulling off a tumbling stop but looking uncomfortable with his right shoulder afterwards — and then added another with a push down the ground.

 

Jadeja brought out a premeditated reverse sweep, the ball ballooning off his glove but luckily falling over the vacant leg-slip area for a single.

 

The pressure remains high, but India’s pair are handling it well so far. India 64/4, needing calm heads as the chase continues.

1:31 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 64 more runs to win

India inch ahead to 60/4 as Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja continue their patient rebuild against a probing Simon Harmer.

 

A tight over again from the off-spinner — just two runs off it. Jadeja picked up a single via an overpitched ball that he eased to long-off, while Sundar added one more with a neat dab square of the wicket.

 

Harmer, though, is asking serious questions. One delivery pitches outside off and rips past Sundar’s forward push, drawing an appreciative “Simon, beautiful” from keeper Verreynne. Another turns sharply from outside leg, forcing Sundar to abandon a flick and play it safely with a straight bat.

 

India 60/4, the stand worth (22 runs off 39 balls), and every run is being earned the hard way on this turning surface.

1:28 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 66 more runs to win

India move to 58/4 after another steady over, collecting four runs off Keshav Maharaj.

 

Ravindra Jadeja keeps the board ticking with a back-foot flick to deep square and a well-run brace through midwicket. He was beaten once playing for turn that wasn’t there — Maharaj’s arm ball straightened to open him up past the outside edge.

 

Washington Sundar, meanwhile, continues his remarkable discipline. He added a single with a soft deflection behind point and now holds the record for most balls faced in this Test (153*) with the lowest false-shot percentage (11.4%) among anyone with 10+ balls — a priceless effort on this minefield.

1:25 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 70 more runs to win

A busy over for India as they pick up three singles against Simon Harmer, moving to 54/4 after 24 overs.

 

Washington Sundar continues to look composed, collecting two runs in the over — one a neat push through cover and another a firm drive to long-off. He also copped a sharp bounce that clipped his glove but survived confidently.

 

Ravindra Jadeja added one more with a controlled flick to midwicket but was nearly pinned when Harmer slid one on with the arm — impact was outside leg.

 

Pressure remains high with Harmer extracting turn, drift and variable bounce, but India’s fifth-wicket pair is hanging in. Sundar is now 24 off 69, Jadeja 13 off 18.

1:21 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 73 more runs to win

India add two more in a steady over from Keshav Maharaj and move to 51/4 after 23 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja continuing to fight hard.

 

Jadeja picked up a well-judged two by guiding a drifting delivery wide of slip off the outer half of the bat — good awareness and excellent running with Washington Sundar. Otherwise, it was an over of tight defence, with Maharaj teasing Jadeja repeatedly with flight, drift and angles from round the wicket.

 

Jadeja is now 12 off 16, showing composure, while Sundar remains on 22 off 65, steady at the non-striker’s end.

 

The partnership is holding, but South Africa’s spinners continue to keep the pressure on.

1:19 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 49-4

India inch forward to 49/4 after another eventful over from Simon Harmer, with Ravindra Jadeja looking increasingly positive even as the pitch continues to play tricks.

 

Jadeja began the over with an attempted sweep that under-edged into the leg-slip region, but he made Harmer pay two balls later — a fuller delivery drifting down leg was swept firmly to fine leg for four, despite de Zorzi’s diving effort from backward short leg. Jadeja later added a single to deep square leg and moves to 10 off 10, batting with intent.

 

Washington Sundar, still solid in defence, was tested by a quicker ball at 90 kph that kept low, but he spotted it early and blocked with a smile — perhaps acknowledging the battle he’s locked in with Harmer. He stays on 22 off 65, watchful and steady.

 

India are 49/4, needing 102 more, as this chase continues to swing with every delivery on a pitch offering turn, drift and uneven bounce.

1:16 PM

1st Test Day 3 | IND vs SA LIVE SCORE: India 44-4 (effectively 5 wicket lost as Gill ruled out)

India move to 44/4 after a mixed over from Marco Jansen, with Ravindra Jadeja getting off the mark in style but Washington Sundar continuing to grind through a tough spell.

The over began with a leg-bye as Washington took evasive action against a rising short ball. Then Jadeja, fresh at the crease, pounced on a rare loose delivery — Jansen strayed onto the pads, and Jadeja glanced it fine for four, despite a diving effort at fine leg. He later added a single with a well-controlled punch to deep point.

Washington, meanwhile, continues to absorb pressure. Several balls climbed or angled awkwardly into him, and he defended with soft hands, ending the over on 22 off 64.

Jadeja is 5 off 5, and India are now 44/4, still needing 107 more. South Africa maintain an attacking field — slip, gully, short leg — and the pitch continues to misbehave.