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South Africa registers an innings victory

Nandita Sridhar

Though Ganguly, Dhoni dig in, India capitulates in three days against a sustained attack

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

AGONY AND ECSTASY: Sourav Ganguly, who top-scored in India’s second innings, can’t hide his disappointment and disgust after falling to an exuberant Dale Steyn.

Ahmedabad: India experienced one of its worst defeats at home, losing to South Africa by an innings and 90 runs at Motera, on Saturday.

India’s brief charade of resistance ended when Sreesanth was bowled by Makhaya Ntini, for the visitor to complete a win in three days.

India’s batting in the second innings wasn’t to be faulted. The match ended 20 overs into the first day when the host was bowled out for 76 and a draw after that would have been an undeserved accident.

The last time India had lost a match in three days at home was in Mumbai in 2001 against Australia. The last time the side lost a match at home by an innings was against South Africa in Bangalore in 2000.

Putting things in perspective

For a side putting forth claims at challenging Australia, such a defeat at home puts things in perspective. India has major concerns with injuries and its bowling before the final Test begins in Kanpur on April 11.

South Africa’s decision to declare at its overnight score was no doubt influenced by the cloud cover and the damp conditions. Sourav Ganguly and M.S. Dhoni stretched India’s efforts at survival with a 110-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer were burdened on their entry. Batting out three days would have required supreme exhibition of skill and perseverance.

Dale Steyn pestered Sehwag in his first over, bowling short and quick. Sehwag managed a swivel pull for six and a flick for the same result. Sehwag’s forward defence sneered. He survived a close call when Ntini got one to pitch outside the off-stump. Ntini gave it the extra inch it needed a few balls later to leave Sehwag defending it with not enough conviction.

Rahul Dravid walked in, his watertight defence called upon more than ever before. A streaky edge through slips for a boundary wasn’t reassuring. Morne Morkel bowled it short, getting it to scurry towards Dravid while attempting to cheat him of time. Dravid jabbed at it for de Villiers to complete a catch.

Jaffer looked more at ease than his partner. Steyn had an appeal turned down for caught behind with Jaffer very nearly edging it.

The stroke-filled Jaffer was felled by the enormity of the task. Batting out three days would have called for chanceless defence. Jacques Kallis bowled it where most do against Jaffer, in the zone of doubt, before the latter offered his second meaningless push of the match.

Easy but edgy

V.V.S. Laxman kept it easy. His fine-leg boundaries off Morkel and the drive fetched from far away were meant to appease. Though Laxman had the touch, his ability to sustain was repeatedly in doubt. A drive that he attempted in stillness off Morkel found a thin edge.

Sourav Ganguly owed himself an innings. Fielders in his line of vision made it an uncomfortable period upfront. To his credit, the ball was seen off to the comforts of the ’keeper’s gloves.

Twitchy-toed and crouched, Ganguly cuts it out as uncomfortable even with runs to back him. The quick bowlers were effective, if predictable, in bowling short, but the threat was warded off with a steady lack of ambition.

The situation suited Ganguly. Survival at all costs meant freedom. Leaving was never contentious but worthy of praise. Only loose deliveries, which he could trust with his confidence and technique, were risked. He scratched around, held himself back and stroked when needed. He survived sessions when most didn’t.

Dhoni’s touch was jerky and his hitting at its worst on Saturday. He drove with authority and pulled with force. His methods were effective in helping him sustain. Though there were little signs of finesse in his defence, he hung on.

Ganguly and Dhoni weren’t a reassuring pair earlier on as both looked to be on the verge of self-destruction. Ganguly appeared nervy and Dhoni overambitious. Boundaries, that had a ring of brevity to them, came through inventive swipes, thrilling jabs and off-side ease.

Post-tea entertainment

The two eased into their roles after tea, making it a better exhibition of batting. Ganguly settled into a rhythm of defence, drives and awkward pulls, each spaced out for balance. Paul Harris was utilised after tea for boundaries, giving Ganguly the width and angle.

Steyn, who had Ganguly in discomfort, consistently thumped it short. He swung at one off Steyn that was taken by Mark Boucher, and contentiously given out by the umpire.

Dhoni and Pathan prolonged the inevitable. Dhoni, after a half-century, had a dicey swing at Ntini and the edge was taken by Smith.

Though Pathan played with ease, the tail performed as expected, with shots manufactured for a three-day finish.

Sreesanth made for a comic climax. Ntini dropped what should have been the match’s final catch and Sreesanth responded with pointless boundaries that made for no entertainment.

Ntini rearranged the stumps to signal the end of a farcical contest. South Africa had earned a well-deserved win, with time to spare.

A.B. de Villiers was named Man-of-the-Match.

SCOREBOARD

India — 1st innings: 76.

South Africa — 1st innings: G. Smith lbw b Sreesanth 34, N. McKenzie c Dravid b Harbhajan 42, H. Amla c Jaffer b Harbhajan 16, J. Kallis b Sreesanth 132, A. Prince lbw b Harbhajan 2, A.B. de Villiers (not out) 217, M. Boucher lbw b Kumble 21, M. Morkel lbw b Harbhajan 1, P. Harris (not out) 9, Extras (b-2, lb-14, w-4): 20; Total (for seven wkts. decl. in 141.2 overs): 494.

Fall of wickets: 1-78 (Smith), 2-100 (McKenzie), 3-101 (Amla), 4-117 (Prince), 5-373 (Kallis), 6-439 (Boucher), 7-452 (Morkel).

India bowling: Sreesanth 23-4-87-2, R.P. Singh 21-2-81-0, Pathan 21.2-3-85-0, Harbhajan 40-5-135-4, Kumble 33-2-78-1, Ganguly 3-0-12-0.

India — 2nd innings: V. Sehwag lbw b Ntini 17, W. Jaffer c de Villiers b Kallis 19, R. Dravid c de Villiers b Morkel 17, V.V.S. Laxman c Boucher b Morkel 35, S. Ganguly c Boucher b Steyn 87, M.S. Dhoni c Smith b Ntini 52, I. Pathan (not out) 43, A. Kumble b Harris 5, Harbhajan lbw b Steyn 4, R.P. Singh c Kallis b Steyn 8, S. Sreesanth b Ntini 17, Extras (b-5, lb-7, nb-5, w-7) 24, Total (in 94.2 overs) 328.

Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Sehwag), 2-64 (Dravid), 3-70 (Jaffer), 4-125 (Laxman), 5-235 (Ganguly), 6-268 (Dhoni), 7-273 (Kumble), 8-292 (Harbhajan), 9-306 (R.P. Singh).

South Africa bowling: Steyn 23-1-91-3, Ntini 16.2-3-44-3, Morkel 20-0-87-2, Kallis 10-3-26-1, Harris 25-4-68-1.

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