Simon Harmer of South Africa made fun of the Indian media that requested that India to have the game under control when they were set a goal at 124 to achieve in the first Test at Eden Gardens. But the Proteas triumphed by 30 in Kolkata to lead the two match Test series.
The right-arm off-spinner talked about how the press had already eliminated South Africa in the competition by the end of Day 2. Harmer mentioned that it was believed in the camp at the end of the second day, and that the turnaround was reached by a concerted effort on the part of the team.
“It was a foregone conclusion. The Indian media said this game was done and dusted. On that wicket, we just needed one partnership and I think the way Temba batted, his tempo, he had a very solid and definite game plan. There was definitely the belief. We were thinking we could have got to 150 there. And then we go out and Marco gets those two wickets and with Shubman not playing, they were effectively none for three. We thought we had a real chance. Everybody chipped in. It’s cliché but it was a proper team effort,” stated on talkSPORT.
Harmer further revealed that several players who had previously been on the losing end of results in India were pleased when things eventually turned around for them. To finish, he stated that it was beneficial to be on the winning side.
“The chat at the end of Day 2 was a chip and a chair. If you’ve got a chip and chair at the table, you’ve got a chance. Sort of manifesting that and for it to come into reality the next day, to sit back down, I think there are a few boys in the dressing room who have been on the other side of the result more often than not, especially in India. They were extremely excited and chuffed. The noise when Axar was hitting those sixes in the stadium was deafening. So yeah, you’re hoping things go your way, and they did,” he added.
Captain Temba Bavuma led from the front with a second-innings for South Africa who were overrun after being bowled out at a disadvantage of 30 in the first-innings. He led the Proteas with his highest score of 55 in a bowling of 153 runs, in 54 overs.
Harmer with a four-wicket haul in the first innings added four more wickets in the second to tear the batting line-up of the Indians and ensure that the hosts were reduced to 93 on the score card.
