KOLKATA, India (AP) — The Eden Gardens pitch has come in for sharp criticism after the first test ended within three days.

“I have been coming to Kolkata for a long time, and I have never seen a pitch like this at the Eden Gardens,” said former India leg spinner Anil Kumble to the host broadcaster JioStar.

“There were definitely demons in the pitch. The batters couldn’t trust their defence, and they didn’t know what to do. Even set batters like Temba Bavuma and Washington Sundar knew the next ball could have their name on it,” added former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn.

India coach Gautam Gambhir shrugged off the criticism. “This is exactly the pitch we wanted, and the curator was very helpful. There was nothing wrong with the pitch. We couldn’t handle the pressure of the fourth innings’ chase, and we need to improve,” he said in the post-match press conference.

Last October, India lost 3-0 to New Zealand – a first home test series defeat since 2012 on similar spin-friendly pitches. It ushered in a transition that resulted in the retirements of senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin.

India has now lost four of its last six home tests and must win in Guwahati to salvage this series.

The second test begins on 22 November.

Simon Harmer, who took 8 wickets in the match, delivered the biggest blow when he dismissed Rishabh Pant, who offered a simple return catch and was dismissed for two runs.

Ravindra Jadeja scored 18 and put on 26 off 45 balls before he was out lbw to Harmer once again. It was Harmer’s fourth four-wicket haul in tests in India.

Washington Sundar battled for 92 deliveries and scored 31 runs, with only two fours, and his dismissal was the turning point. South Africa gambled with Aiden Markram’s part-time spin as Sundar was caught at slip in the 31st over.

Axar Patel hit two sixes as he raced to 26 off 17 balls, but Maharaj struck twice in the 35th over to seal a famous win for South Africa.

Patel holed out to a brilliant running catch from Temba Bavuma, and then Mohammed Siraj was caught first ball at slip, as India succumbed at home to spin once again.

Harmer was named player of the match for his match haul of 8-51.

“Today, the pitch was a little flatter, and the ball went softer quickly. We were behind the eight ball, but for the team to fight back the way it did shows where this group of players is at. It shows what we are capable of and the belief that we have. There is still another test to go, but we are going to enjoy this win as it doesn’t come very often,” he said.

Earlier, South Africa was bowled out for 153 runs in its second innings. It added 60 vital runs to its overnight score of 93-7.

Bavuma scored 55 not out off 136 balls – the only half-century of the test across both sides – as he marshalled the Proteas to a challenging fourth innings’ score.

The skipper added 44 off 79 balls with Corbin Bosch for the eighth wicket.

This partnership frustrated India as it missed a trick in not deploying its pacers first up. Bosch scored 25 off 37 balls, with two fours and one six, adding 24 more runs Sunday.

Bavuma brought up his 50 off 122 balls, as South Africa scored 51-1 in the first hour of play.

Jasprit Bumrah finally got the breakthrough, bowling Bosch in the 48th over. Mohammed Siraj then struck twice in the 54th over to end the Proteas’ innings.

On Saturday, 15 wickets fell on day two as India scored 189 runs in reply to South Africa’s first innings’ 159.