India vs South Africa 2-Test Series
Kolkata Test, day five: India beat South Africa to level series, retain No.1 spot (SAF-IND: 1-1|2)
February 18, 2010
Harbhajan Singh took five wickets as India secured a dramatic innings and 58-run victory in the final minutes of the second Test against South Africa at Kolkata. The last wicket partnership between Hashim Amla (127*) and Morne Morkel (12) defied the Indian bowlers for more than 20 overs, but Harbhajan returned to snare Morkel with around 15 minutes remaining on the final day.
Hashim Amla batted superbly to frustrate India with his second century of the match, but could not deny India a series tying victory. He took the man of the match and man of the series awards for centuries in each innings at Eden Gardens and 490 in total. He was dismissed only once in the series.
The win means India retain their place ahead of South Africa at the top of the Test world rankings.
Kolkota Test, day five: India 643/6 declared (Sehwag 165, Laxman 143*, Dhoni 132*, Tendulkar 106) beat South Africa 296 (Amla 114, Petersen 100, Zaheer 4-90, Harbhajan 3-64) and 289 (Amla 127*, Harbhajan 5-59, Mishra 3-78) by an innings and 58 runs
Kolkata Test, day four: Bad weather helps SA stay afloat in Kolkata
February 17, 2010
Only two-and-a-half hours of play was possible on day four, but India tightened their grip against South Africa, picking up three key wickets. South Africans were struggling at 115/3 when rain forced an early closure at the Eden Gardens.
India are left with just one day to push for a series-levelling win, after Rain and Hashim Amla (49 not out) frustrated their bid on a day when only 34.1 overs could be bowled. The visitors are still 232 runs behind India, with only seven wickets in hand.
Kolkota Test, day four: South Africa 296 and 115/3 (Amla 49*, Mishra 2-15) trail India 643/6 decl. by 232 runs
Kolkata Test, day three: Dhoni, Laxman tons take India to 643/6
February 16, 2010
VVS Laxman (143*) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (132*) both added unbeaten centuries to give India a huge 347-run first-innings lead in the second Test against South Africa. It was Laxman's 15th and Dhoni's fourth Test centuries.
Nightwatchman Amit Mishra racked up 28 runs at the beginning of the day before losing his wicket. It was the only wicket to fall on day three as India resumed on 5 for 342 and went on to declare their first innings closed at 6 for 643. It was only the second occasion that four Indian batsmen have scored centuries in a single Test innings. The massive seventh-wicket partnership resulted in an unbroken stand of 259 runs, a new Indian record for the seventh wicket. The total is India's highest against South Africa, beating the 627 they scored at Chennai in 2007-08.
South Africa added six runs without loss before bad light ended play.
Kolkota Test, day three: South Africa 296 and 6/0 trail India 643/6 decl. (Sehwag 165, Tendulkar 106, Laxman 143*, Dhoni 132*) by 341 runs
Kolkata Test, day two: South Africa strike after Sehwag, Tendulkar tons
February 15, 2010
A double century partnership for the third wicket between Virender Sehwag (165) and Sachin Tendulkar (106), both of whom scored their second centuries of the series, allowed India to establish a 46 run lead over South Africa on the second day of the second Test with 5 wickets left. The opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag plundered 73 runs off 9.2 overs - at a rate close to 8 runs per over - before Sehwag ran Gambhir out with a call for a non-existent second run. After Murali Vijay came and left putting only 7 on the board, Tendulkar joined Sehwag. While Sehwag (165 off 174 balls, with 23 fours and two sixes) scored his 19th century, Tendulkar completed his 47th century and his fourth in successive Test matches.
South Africa were bowled out for 296 in the morning, adding 30 runs to their overnight score of 266/9. After two sessions that completely belonged to India, they came back into the match with a 3-wicket haul after tea. After Sehwag fell to Duminy in his second ball, Tendulkar and S Badrinath followed in quick succession within 4 overs. At stumps, India were 342/5, with VVS Laxman batting on 9 and night watchman Amit Mishra for company.
Kolkota Test, day two: India 342/5 (Sehwag 165, Tendulkar 106) lead South Africa 296 (Amla 114, Petersen 100, Zaheer 4-90) by 46 runs
Kolkata Test, day one: India on top after dramatic South Africa collapse
February 14, 2010
South Africa, who were 218 for one in 58 overs with the help of quick centuries from Amla (114) and debutant Alviro Petersen (100), crashed to 266 for nine as Zaheer and Harbhajan picked up three wickets apiece as they ripped through the visitor's middle order.
After losing the toss India who were asked to field opened with the wicket of Graeme Smith, only to see the second wicket duo of Petersen and Amla adding 209. The collapse however began with Petersen edging Zaheer to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Amla left shortly after the tea interval as he mistimed a pull off Zahir and giving Dhoni his second catch of the day. Harbhajan then destroyed South Africa's fragile middle order with a three-wicket burst.
India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Vijay, Tendulkar, Laxman, Badrinath, Dhoni (C/W), Harbhajan, Zaheer, Mishra, I Sharma
South Africa: Gm Smith (C), Prince, Amla, Kallis, de Villiers (W), Duminy, Petersen, Steyn, Parnell, M Morkel, P Harris
Kolkota Test, day one: South Africa 266 for 9 (Amla 114, Petersen 100, Harbhajan 3-60, Zaheer 3-77) v India
Kolkata Test: Sreesanth returns for Eden Test
February 12, 2010
Kerala pacer S Sreesanth is likely to play in the second Test match as the Indian selectors dropped the back-up seamers Sudeep Tyagi and Abhimanyu and brought him back into the side. Dinesh Karthik - a batsman who can keep - and Suresh Raina - a middle-order batsman - were also named in the 15 member Indian squad. VVS Laxman, who missed the first Test due to injury, was also retained. Wriddhiman Saha was dropped inspite of him playing a fighting knock of 36 from 101 balls where he frustrated the South Africans.
A 1-0 or 2-0 victory for South Africa will give them the No. 1 world ranking. India can keep that poistion if they win the Test and tie the series. India have not lost at the Eden Gardens in the last five Tests.
India squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain, wkt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Subramaniam Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Suresh Raina.
Nagpur Test, day four: South Africa steamrolls India in Nagpur (SAF-IND: 1-0|2)
February 09, 2010
The Proteas romped to a crushing victory over India by an innings and six runs after another superb display by pace bowler Dale Steyn who achieved match figures of 10-108. Sachin Tendulkar earlier hit his 46th Test century, but proved once again he doesn't have the heart to play a second innings like Laxman, Dravid or Gambhir when it matters. It was India's third innings loss at home in 25 years, all of those coming against South Africa. The South Africans now need to just draw the second and final Test beginning in Kolkata on February 14 to reclaim their top ranking from India.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a vocal advocate of youth over experience ever since he started leading India, finally saw his wishes come through before the Nagpur test. For someone who has always tried to get rid of the seniors in the team except Sachin, it might have been a dream come true to see a playing XI that didn't feature Dravid and Laxman. The team was stacked with youngsters ("It is easy to motivate youngsters," Dhoni after WT20 2007 victory). And the result? Dhoni's first loss as Indian captain.
Nagpur Test, day four: South Africa 558/6 declared (J Kallis 173, H Amla 253 not out, AB de Villiers 53) beat India 233 (V Sehwag 109, S Badrinath 56, D Steyn 7-51) and 319 (S Tendulkar 100) by an innings and six runs
Nagpur Test, day three: India 66/2 after following-on, trail by 259 runs
February 08, 2010
South Africa were eyeing victory after Dale Steyn picked a career-best 7-51 in the Indian first innings, and then dismissed Virender Sehwag, the only batsman who troubled them on day three. In the first innings Sehwag scored 109 runs off 139 balls - his 18th Test ton - while debutant Badrinath scored 56 from the same number of balls.
Dale Steyn ripped apart India's fragile middle order, with a career-best haul of seven for 51 as the hosts were bundled out for 233 in the first innings. India are struggling at 66 for two in their second innings at close of play, after losing both openers. Murali Vijay and Tendulkar are at the crease, with a 38 run partnership for the third wicket.
Nagpur Test, day three: India 233 (Sehwag 109, Badrinath 56, Steyn 7-51) and 62/2 trail South Africa 558/6 declared by 259 runs
Nagpur Test, day two: Hashim Amla hits double ton
February 07, 2010
An unbeaten 253 from Hashim Amla - his first double century - helped South Africa to compile 558/6 declared on day two of the first Test against India at Nagpur. Amla shared in a 108-run fourth wicket stand with AB de Villiers (53) after taking his overnight partnership with Jacques Kallis (173) to 340.
India were 25 without loss in reply at the close with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir not out on nine and 12 respectively.
Nagpur Test, day two: India 25/0 trail South Africa 558/6 declared (Amla 253*, Kallis 173, de Villiers 53) by 533 runs
Nagpur Test, day one: Kallis, Amla punish India
February 06, 2010
After Zaheer Khan (2-67) sent back openers Ashwell Prince and Graeme Smith in a fiery opening spell, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla slammed unbeaten centuries to help South Africa seize the momentum against India in Nagpur. Kallis scored 159 (off 290 balls, 13x4s, 2x6s) and Amla made 115 (off 225 balls, 11x4s) as the Proteas recovered from a 6/2 to reach 291/2 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test.
While Amla struck his eighth Test century, Kallis completed his 34th Test ton. He equalled legends Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara, and is now behind only Ricky Ponting (39) and Sachin Tendulkar (45).
India team: V Sehwag, G Gambhir, M Vijay, SR Tendulkar, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni (Captain, Wicketkeeper), WP Saha, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, A Mishra, I Sharma.
Nagpur Test, day one: South Africa 291/2 (Kallis 159*, Amla 115*, Zaheer 2-67) vs India
Nagpur Test: Battle for No. 1 begins
February 05, 2010
Under a cloudy sky, India will begin their 2-test series against South Africa in Nagpur today, needing only to draw the series to pick up the $175,000 bonus from ICC as the world's numero uno Test team. As for the Proteas, they must win the series at least 1-0, to regain their top ranking they held from December 2008 after dethroning the then champions Australia. Graeme Smith and Gautam Gambhir will battle it out for the No. 1 spot for Test batsmen.
India in all probability will feature a new look middle order batting line up, with VVS Laxman still uncertain to play. From where things stand, S Badrinath and Rohit Sharma are set to debut today in the middle order. The last time a middle order batsman made his debut in Team India was Yuvraj Singh in 2003. Inexperienced M Vijay will also be in the final playing XI.
| India vs South Africa | Tests | Won by IND | Won by SAF | Drawn |
| in South Africa | 12 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| in India | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Overall | 22 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
South Africa ready for India challenge
February 02-03, 2010
After bowling out Board President's XI for 318, South Africa overtook the target to reach 354 before folding. Leg-spinner Chawla (4/88) and off-spinner Ashwin (3/96) exposed the vulnerability of the visitors, especially the middle and lower order, against turning balls. Ashwell Prince (42), Smith (45), Hashim Amla (72 retired), Jacques Kallis (63 retired), JP Duminy (39) and AB de Villiers (27), all got the practice they were looking for.
Board President's XI 318 (Nayar 100, Dhwan 70, Morkel 3-24, Parnell 3-66) drew with South Africans 354 all out (Amla 72 retd, Kallis 63 retd, Chawla 4-88)
Reported earlier: South Africa begin their quest to regain the No 1 Test team spot when they commence their tour of India with a two-day practice match against Indian Board President's XI in Nagpur today.
With the Board XI having named a squad of 14 it is likely that both sides will use more than 11 players during the match.
South Africa : Amla, Botha, Boucher (wicket), de Villiers, Duminy, Harris, Kallis, McLaren, Morkel, Parnell, Petersen, Prince, Smith (Captain), Steyn, Tsotsobe
Injured Dravid, Yuvraj out of Nagpur Test; Mithun, Saha in against South Africa
January 28, 2010
Karnataka medium-fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun and Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha are the surprise inclusions in the 15-man squad announced by the national selectors in Mumbai to play in the first test against South Africa in Nagpur. While Saha was called up as back-up wicketkeeper for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, twenty-year-old pacer Mithun was rewarded for his excellent performance in domestic cricket ever since his debut in November 2009.
The 6' 2" tall Abhimanyu Mithun made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy match against UP and grabbed 11 wickets, including a hat-trick. In just 10 matches he now has 52 wickets.
Tamil Nadu's Subramaniam Badrinath might make his Test debut as India is missing both Dravid and Yuvraj Singh due to injuries sustained in Bangladesh. However, VVS Laxman, who missed the second Test against Bangladesh after injuring his left hand, is expected to be fit.
Team India will lose their No. 1 spot if the lose the series 2-0, while a 1-0 loss will leave both teams level on 123 rating points.
Indian Squad (15): Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Subramaniam Badrinath, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Sudeep Tyagi, Pragyan Ojha, Abhimanyu Mithun, Wriddhiman Saha.
Board President’s XI squad: Abhinav Mukund, Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma (captain), Manish Pandey, Cheteshwar Pujara, Abhishek Nayar, Piyush Chawla, R. Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Manpreet Gony.
With South Africa crossing 121 runs total, India were knocked out of World Twenty20 in Super 8 stage as Pakistan booked their place in semifinals with a better net run-rate.
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