Bumrah gives India the edge vs SA on tricky Eden Gardens pitch

Pacer takes 5/27 to dismantle South Africa for 159 after visitors elect to bat

- Somshuvra Laha

The unfairness of Jasprit Bumrah never bowling a Test spell at Eden Gardens was more than compensated in 14 overs, his unparalleled mastery on an inconsistent but lively Eden Gardens pitch yielding five wickets that broke South Africa’s batting spine in clinical fashion.

Mohammed Siraj overcame a wobbly start to take two wickets, as did Kuldeep Yadav after India surprised themselves by picking four spinners for the first time since Nagpur 2012. The move paid off as South Africa were dismissed for 159 after choosing to bat, though Washington Sundar ended up being grossly underbowled with just one over to his name in the first innings.

‘As fate would have it though, Washington was soon called out at No.3 to negotiate a passage of probing fast bowling from Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder with KL Rahul before a trial by spin from Keshav Maharaj in the fading light of Eden Gardens. Together, they blocked everything that came their way in that last hour to take India to 37/1 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test here, still trailing South Africa by 122 runs.