NEW DELHI: South Africa spinner Simon Harmer aimed a mild swipe at the Indian side as he looked back on the dramatic Kolkata Test victory. Harmer explained the belief running through the Proteas camp and the key moments that shaped one of their standout wins on Indian soil.

Harmer Says Confidence Stayed Intact

Speaking on talkSPORT Cricket, Harmer noted that much of the chatter around the match suggested India would wrap it up without trouble. He said it seemed as if many had already decided the outcome long before play resumed. But within the South Africa group the mood was nothing like that.

He said they only needed one solid stand to change the flow of the game.

“It was a foregone conclusion. The Indian media said this game was done and dusted. On that wicket we just needed one partnership,” Harmer said.

He praised Temba Bavuma for the clarity he brought to his innings.
“The way Temba batted, his tempo, he had a very solid and definite game plan,” he added.

Harmer said the team even believed they could still push towards a stronger total.

“There was definitely the belief. We were thinking we could have got to 150 there,” he said.

He pointed out that Marco Jansen’s early blows in the chase lifted their hopes even further.

“Marco gets those two wickets and with Shubman not playing they were effectively none for three. We thought we had a real chance,” he told talkSPORT Cricket.

‘Chip And A Chair’ Motto Drove South Africa’s Comeback

Harmer said that even when the situation looked difficult late on day two the group did not lose its nerve. He laughed that he may even have spoken the win into existence.

He said the message among the players was simple.
“The chat at the end of day two was a chip and a chair. If you have a chip and chair at the table you have a chance,” he said.

Harmer added that watching that belief turn into a result left the dressing room buzzing.

"To see it come into reality the next day… some boys in the dressing room have been on the wrong end of results in India. They were extremely excited and chuffed,” he said.

He also recalled the roar in the stadium as Axar Patel tried to push India back into the contest.

“The noise when Axar was hitting those sixes was deafening. You hope things go your way and they do,” Harmer said.