‘Not for me to say if pitch should suit us’

“Our batsmen got good starts in the second innings, though they couldn’t convert them. Sourav (Ganguly) batted well. We will take these positives to Kanpur,” he said.

The skipper regretted not being able to get a breakthrough when AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis were setting it up for the visitors. “It was always going to be difficult to come back after being bundled out for 76, but we had got four quick wickets. Then the partnership began. The result could have been different had we got a breakthrough then,” said Kumble.

He also backed his decision to bat first on a track that suited seamers. “It was not a bad decision. It was just one of those days when all our nicks went to the fielders,” said Kumble.

His South African counterpart chose to back the explanation. “Look, I would have done the same. The new ball was doing something all three days. But once that was seen off, it was easy to bat,” said Graeme Smith.

Smith credited perfect execution of plans for the win. “It was a perfect match for us from start to finish. We dominated completely,” he said.

The Proteas captain emphasised they wouldn’t allow complacency to creep in. “We are very hungry for success. We’ll stick to the basics again in Kanpur,” said Smith.