South Africa clinched the first Test against India in a dramatic three-day finish, handing the Indian team a massive defeat in the match held in Kolkata.
With this stunning victory, South Africa not only takes a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series but also shattered a 53-year-old record at the Eden Gardens. South Africa broke the record for the lowest score successfully defended at the iconic venue.
The Record Belongs to South Africa, Not India
South Africa had set India a modest target of just 124 runs for victory. Although the target did not seem substantial, chasing it at the Eden Gardens proved to be a colossal challenge. Had the Indian team succeeded, they would have broken a 21-year-old record. Instead, South Africa successfully defended the 124 runs, breaking the 53-year-old record.
South Africa Defeats India by 30 Runs
Chasing the 124-run target, India failed to reach even the 100-run mark in their second innings. Already hampered by the absence of captain Shubman Gill, the team lost its remaining nine wickets for just 93 runs in the second innings. Consequently, South Africa won the match by 30 runs, securing their first Test victory in India in 15 years.