India roar back at Durban
By ICF Staff
December 30 2010
Top-ranked India defeats South Africa in three and a half days in the second Test at Durban, despite a continuing lack of tour matches.
The Durban pitch was clearly prepared to take India down, after their defeat in the opening match at Centurion. Mahendra Dhoni's continued bad luck with the toss meant that South Africa's top pace attack once again got first use of the pitch. And a continued lack of tour matches meant that the only practice India had gotten thus far was the first Test match.
That India's batsmen led by VVS Laxman, and bowlers led by the returning Zaheer Khan, rose to the occasion magnificently to win was proof enough of India's power as the top ranked team in cricket.
Poor preparation and lack of acclimatization could no longer hold back India. On a pitch which saw 40 wickets fall in 3.5 days, normally a surefire red flag for the ICC hounds that monitor such matters, India dominated throughout.
The key innings was played by VVS Laxman in the second dig, agonizingly close to a century despite a bad back, in a match where no other player came close to 50. Laxman burnished his reputation as a pressure player in the most difficult of conditions, and the Indian bowlers ensured that the resulting target was comfortably defended.
Zaheer Khan caused the South African batting lineup to collapse for one of their lowest totals against India in the first innings. Sreesanth was back to his fiery best, almost breaking Jacques Kallis' wrist in the second innings with a jaffa of a bouncer when he threatened to stand in the way of an India win, that touch resulting in an easy catch. Harbhajan Singh teased and tantalized the Saffies with something approaching his best form too.
The fielding was not lacking either, and some top-class catches and runouts were seen from the Indians. Dravid became the most successful catcher in cricket with 200 catches, and the likes of young Pujara showed an alertness in closeup positions that was heartening.
The decider at Cape Town should be riveting. If anything, that pitch should play more to India's strength, and if India can once again put away the number 2 team in their backyard, that will go a long way towards consolidating their position at the top of world cricket.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:01:02:19:13:35 by Max.
Quote:ICF
Sreesanth was back to his fiery best, almost breaking Jacques Kallis' wrist in the second innings with a jaffa of a bouncer when he threatened to stand in the way of an innings defeat
I guess that's what it feels like when we win SA?
[1] The bouncer from Sreesanth to J Kallis had to be the most venomous-vicious bouncer of ALL-TIME & I saw it live. I never knew the human body was able to bend in 1/110th of a second in the manner that Kallis did. I was superb bowling & the most lethal delivery I have watched live
[2] Paul Harris - the guy who gave big-time lip to Ishant faced a 7 ball over of nothing but bouncers - everyone of them designed to knock his head over.
At one point after 2 bouncers, Ishant appears to ask Zakky (positioned at mid-off to coach Sharma whether he should keep bouncing - and Zakky says "yes-keep going"). Incidentally Zakky also got some serious lip from the Saffies while batting including some vicious bouncers.
All in all - it was a fast-bouncy wicket, and the Indian bowlers were like spitting-Cobras at the throat of the SA batters.
The India win was so phenomenal. Well done India...could not have happened without the greatest batsman against white-hot pace & my hero VVS showing how to combat violent bowling on a violent pitch - VVS made the #1 & #2 highest score in this Test, of course Zakky.
Zakky is the soul of the bowling unit - without him they are like lost puppies.
