Durban Test: Team India beats South Africa by 87 runs

However,Indian pacers,while nowhere near their SA counterparts in terms of pure venomous pace,still extracted movement from the pitch and maintained a great line and length to destroy the South African innings for a humiliating 131,thereby setting up the the Test for victory.

Harbhajan’s stellar role in netting the prized wicket of Hashim Amla went a long way in destroying the SA morale in the first innings – Bhajji’s figures read a magical 7.2 overs,2 maidens,10 runs and 4 wickets! In the second innings by SA he took 2 wickets,but he bowled 29 overs in all giving up a measly 79 runs in them. It should be remembered that South Africa was not chasing a big score and could be stopped only if an accurate bowler kept them on a leash. Turbanator did that and more.

However,much work was needed to be done in India’s second innings and though most batsmen failed again,VVS Laxman batted majestically to take the Indian innings to 228,scoring 96 and asking South Africa to chase a 300+ score.

They failed miserably to do so as the Indian fast bowlers and Harbhajan had smelled blood and were going in for the kill with a vengeance.

Importantly,Team India notched up the win despite Sachin Tendulkar failing with the bat in both innings.

The win was also smart reply by India to South African skipper Graeme Smith who had all but written off India,even choosing to denigrate Sachin’s 50th century as not really being a worthy achievement – he was defending Jacques Kallis who had refused to get up and applaud the Master Blaster’s achievement.

For a change,the ever-controversial Sreesanth’s theatrics and verbal volleys had a huge role to play in the Indian win. His ability to get under the skin of batsmen and irritate them came good this time against Graeme Smith. The altercation disturbed Smith,who had batted solidly till then and was leading the charge towards a win,and this allowed the Indian bowler to send him packing back to the pavilion. Sreesanth had him caught behind by Dhoni for 37.

With this win,India have leveled the three-match series 1-1.

The third Test will begin on Sunday at Cape Town.

Brief Scores:

India 205 and 228

South Africa 131 and 215 all out in 72.3 overs (Ashwell Prince 39 not out,Graeme Smith 37,AB de Villiers 33; Zaheer Khan 3/57,S Sreesanth 3/45).

Situation at lunch:

India inched closer towards a series-levelling victory with the bowlers leading the charge by scalping four South African wickets at lunch on the fourth day of the second cricket Test here today.

At the break,South Africa were 182 for seven in 59 overs with Ashwell Prince (28) and Paul Harris (7) at the crease.

India need three more wickets to draw parity in the three-match series while 121 runs is what South Africa will be looking for to take an unassailable 2-0 lead with nearly one-and-a-half days play still remaining in the match.

With plenty of time at hand,South African batsmen adopted a cautious approach in the morning and were content in playing the waiting game against some disciplined Indian bowling.

The match was evenly-poised and both the teams came out on the fourth day eying a victory. While South Africa needed 192 more runs to win,the visitors needed seven more wickets to level the series and as expected the Indian bowlers were all charged up.

Resuming their chase at the overnight score of 111 for three,both de Villiers and Jacques Kallis found the going tough against the Indian attack and scored in ones and twos before a ripper from Sreesanth broke the dangerous-looking 41-run fourth-wicket stand.

The Kerela speedster came up with a blinder of a delivery that bounced sharply on to Kallis from just short of length and the big man had no other option but to fend at it,only to glove it to Virender Sehwag at gully.

Kallis made 17 off 52 deliveries and hit two boundaries in the process.

It seemed Indian captain MS Dhoni came out with a perfect plan as he started the day’s proceeding with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh,who bowled in tandem alongside Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan.

Dhoni’s tactic bore fruit as Harbhajan inflicted the second big blow of the morning to South Africa by dismissing another dangerman De Villiers (33) lbw even though TV replays showed the South African was unlucky.

Bowling from round the wicket,Harbhajan tossed one up on off and middle and got it to bite and straighten which struck de Villiers around the knee in front of the stumps and umpire Asad Rauf had no hestiation in raising the finger but replays later showed the ball was going above the stumps.

Soon after de Velliers wicket,another dubious lbw decision ruined South Africa’s morning when Zaheer Khan dismissed Mark Boucher in the 43rd over.

Zaheer too registered his name in the wicket list when he struck Boucher on the pads with a delivery that seemed to be angling away from the off-stump but umpire Steve Davis thought otherwise and adjudged the Protea wicket-keeper lbw much to the dismay of the home fans.

Zaheer then took India closer towards victory dismissing Dale Steyn (10) caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at third slip after the right-hander went for a flashing drive only to get an outside edge.

But a resolute Prince remained a thorn in the flesh for the Indians as he joined hands with Harris to lead South Africa’s fightback and frustrated the visitors with their unbeaten 27-run eighth-wicket partnership.