Dejected Ganguly looks forward to a break

“It surprises me since the same batsmen had done so well on Indian wickets, where the ball does something. Here on a flat Sharjah pitch, the batsmen should have got going.”

The Indian captain admitted South Africans were in total control of the match right from the start. “At one stage they were 50 for three. But 164 was a low total and I knew one good partnership would get them there."

“But I am hoping things will improve in Dhaka. Probably we will have a short break before we will leave for the Asia Cup and I am looking forward to it,” he added.

His South African counterpart Hansie Cronje could not conceal his happiness and praised for Jacques Kallis, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 53, Lance Klusener and Mornantau Hayward.

“Kallis has matured a lot over the last 24 months and is now a crucial part of the team. I am particularly happy with his and Klusener’s bowling as both were suffering from injuries,” he said.