crickap
School Cricketer
South Africa in India
INDIA 3 SOUTH AFRICA 0
India's last home series before the Border-Gavaskar trophy ended in emphatic victory for the Indians. Not only had they found a solid opening pair in Sehwag and Gambhir, they had also found a good pace bowling partnership in Irfan Pathan and RP Singh and arguably Pathan was at last fulfilling his potential as a genuine all rounder.
India Squad: Kumble (C), Dhoni (VC), Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Sehwag, Gambhir, Harbajan, R.P. Singh, Sreesanth, Pathan.
I TEST: IND - 496 & 414/2 decl beat SA - 207 & 361
For the first test in Delhi, India went in with two spinners leaving Pathan out. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Gambhir got India off to a good start with a brisk 70. However, the South Africans kept picking up wickets through the day and the Indians ended the first day on 341/6 with Ganguly still at the crease. On the second day, Ganguly got to his hundred ably assisted by Kumble's 66 helping India post 496. Smith and Gibbs started well adding 95 for the first wicket, but a beautiful spell of spin bowling by Harbhajan Singh (12-3-32-3) reduced South Africa to 172/5 at stumps on Day 2. Within the first hour on the third day, South Africa were bowled out for 207 leaving India a big lead of 289. Skipper Anil Kumble chose not to enforce the follow-on wanting South Africa to bat last. Thanks to Sehwag's blistering knock of 159 off 139 deliveries, India declared late on the third day at 414/2 off just 69 overs setting South Africa a target of 704. South Africa were bowled out for 361 just after lunch on the fifth day with Harbhajan once again picking up 5 wickets. A great performance by India, but the seamers had failed to provide early breakthroughs in both innings.
II TEST: SA - 242 & 122 lost to IND-391
For the second test in Mumbai, the curator had prepared a pitch that turned right from day 1. South Africa won the toss and chose to bat. This time the Indian seamers did better - RP Singh trapped Gibbs leg before and Sreesanth had Smith caught at third slip within the first half hour. Sreesanth sent Duminy back to the dressing room just after drinks reducing South Africa to 61/3. Kallis and Amla got half-centuries taking South Africa to 242. A first innings lead for India was essential as chasing anything over 200 in the fourth innings was going to be difficult on this pitch. Sehwag was dismissed early on by Kallis, but centuries by Dravid and Ganguly helped India reach 381/9 by stumps on the second day. On the third morning, India were bowled out for 391. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 122 as RP Singh made excellent use of the conditions picking up 5-34. India won by an innings and 27 runs clinching the test series.
III TEST: SA - 277 & 360 lost to IND - 408 & 230/6
For the final test, India dropped Sreesanth, picking Irfan Pathan in his place. On a placid pitch in Chennai, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, putting up 277 on the board after a painstaking 50 off over 200 balls by Amla. India started it's reply strongly with a run-a-ball half-century from Sehwag but were pegged back as Ntini and left-arm spinner Harris picked up three apiece reducing India to 260/6 at stumps. A magnificent 83 by Irfan Pathan supported by a half-century from Dhoni enabled India to take a 131 run lead. At one stage, South Africa looked to be well on course to save the game at 349/5 thanks to half-centuries from Gibbs, Kallis, Amla and Boucher of which the latter two were still at the crease. But a brief shower after tea on the fourth day freshened up the pitch and Irfan Pathan picked up four of the last 5 wickets bowling South Africa out for 360 leaving India a target of 230 in just over a day. By lunch on the final day, India had been reduced to 92/5 thanks to some inspired bowling by the South Africans. Just after lunch, Harris bowled Tendulkar with the score at 101 only to see the umpire's no ball call. By tea, Tendulkar and Dhoni had added another 100 runs and although Tendulkar was bowled by Steyn after tea, Pathan and Dhoni took India home.
INDIA 3 SOUTH AFRICA 0
India's last home series before the Border-Gavaskar trophy ended in emphatic victory for the Indians. Not only had they found a solid opening pair in Sehwag and Gambhir, they had also found a good pace bowling partnership in Irfan Pathan and RP Singh and arguably Pathan was at last fulfilling his potential as a genuine all rounder.
India Squad: Kumble (C), Dhoni (VC), Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Sehwag, Gambhir, Harbajan, R.P. Singh, Sreesanth, Pathan.
I TEST: IND - 496 & 414/2 decl beat SA - 207 & 361
For the first test in Delhi, India went in with two spinners leaving Pathan out. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Gambhir got India off to a good start with a brisk 70. However, the South Africans kept picking up wickets through the day and the Indians ended the first day on 341/6 with Ganguly still at the crease. On the second day, Ganguly got to his hundred ably assisted by Kumble's 66 helping India post 496. Smith and Gibbs started well adding 95 for the first wicket, but a beautiful spell of spin bowling by Harbhajan Singh (12-3-32-3) reduced South Africa to 172/5 at stumps on Day 2. Within the first hour on the third day, South Africa were bowled out for 207 leaving India a big lead of 289. Skipper Anil Kumble chose not to enforce the follow-on wanting South Africa to bat last. Thanks to Sehwag's blistering knock of 159 off 139 deliveries, India declared late on the third day at 414/2 off just 69 overs setting South Africa a target of 704. South Africa were bowled out for 361 just after lunch on the fifth day with Harbhajan once again picking up 5 wickets. A great performance by India, but the seamers had failed to provide early breakthroughs in both innings.
II TEST: SA - 242 & 122 lost to IND-391
For the second test in Mumbai, the curator had prepared a pitch that turned right from day 1. South Africa won the toss and chose to bat. This time the Indian seamers did better - RP Singh trapped Gibbs leg before and Sreesanth had Smith caught at third slip within the first half hour. Sreesanth sent Duminy back to the dressing room just after drinks reducing South Africa to 61/3. Kallis and Amla got half-centuries taking South Africa to 242. A first innings lead for India was essential as chasing anything over 200 in the fourth innings was going to be difficult on this pitch. Sehwag was dismissed early on by Kallis, but centuries by Dravid and Ganguly helped India reach 381/9 by stumps on the second day. On the third morning, India were bowled out for 391. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 122 as RP Singh made excellent use of the conditions picking up 5-34. India won by an innings and 27 runs clinching the test series.
III TEST: SA - 277 & 360 lost to IND - 408 & 230/6
For the final test, India dropped Sreesanth, picking Irfan Pathan in his place. On a placid pitch in Chennai, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, putting up 277 on the board after a painstaking 50 off over 200 balls by Amla. India started it's reply strongly with a run-a-ball half-century from Sehwag but were pegged back as Ntini and left-arm spinner Harris picked up three apiece reducing India to 260/6 at stumps. A magnificent 83 by Irfan Pathan supported by a half-century from Dhoni enabled India to take a 131 run lead. At one stage, South Africa looked to be well on course to save the game at 349/5 thanks to half-centuries from Gibbs, Kallis, Amla and Boucher of which the latter two were still at the crease. But a brief shower after tea on the fourth day freshened up the pitch and Irfan Pathan picked up four of the last 5 wickets bowling South Africa out for 360 leaving India a target of 230 in just over a day. By lunch on the final day, India had been reduced to 92/5 thanks to some inspired bowling by the South Africans. Just after lunch, Harris bowled Tendulkar with the score at 101 only to see the umpire's no ball call. By tea, Tendulkar and Dhoni had added another 100 runs and although Tendulkar was bowled by Steyn after tea, Pathan and Dhoni took India home.
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