South Africa won by an Innings and 90 Runs!

South Africa beat India in the 2nd test of the three match series by an innings and 90 runs. The match was completed in just less than 3 days of play. India meekly surrendered in the first innings for mere 76 and in the 2nd innings were all out for 328 runs.

In the South African 1st innings, de Villiers scored a beautiful double century and Kallis a wonderful 132 which gave South Afrian a very big lead.

It's also India's first innings defeat since the 2001 Colombo (SSC) Test against Sri Lanka.

de Villiers wasd declared man of the match for his unbeaten 217.

South Africa delcared their innings at the end of the second day, but they announced it in the morning at 494 for 7. The overnight rain should have given Smith a thought that it may rain in future and would have triggered the decison to declare.

Started the 2nd innings with a deficit of 418, either had to play out the 3 days with 270 overs or score 418 at least to make South African bat again. The chances of India recovering one more time like they did with Australia. But, that required few top guns to play a marathon innings like Dravid and Laxman.

How did we depend on Shewaga? He is not a consistent player in test cricket though he is a dashing player. But, does not play any sensible cricket and play according to the situation.

Shewag was the first to go, leg before wicket for 17 off Nitni. Dravid was trying to push the ball which was in the chest height went straight to slips off Morkel. He was out for 17.

It was crucial for Jaffer to prove his credibility, but not able to play an important innings. He had all the time in the world to play his innings, but trying to drive the ball pitched up to him, edged it to slips.

Though Laxman and Ganguly tried to build the innings with first 50 runs partnership in this test for India, Laxman played at the ball pitched away from the off stump, which edged to wicket keeper. The key batsman was out for 35.

It was left to Ganguly and Dhoni to bring back the pride to India, the last recognized pair of batsmen. Gaungly crossed his fifty, focussing every ball and had a tough time in the crease.

He crossed his 50 in 86 balls with 5 fours. He was declared caught behind though the decision was not a good one. The partnership between Dhoni and Ganguly was the first 100 run partership of the Indian innings. He was out for 87 off 149 balls with 8 fours.

Dhoni, who also scored fifty, which had no value in this innings because it did not help India save the game. He scored his 50 off 122 balls with 5 fours. I think he has some attitude issue in playing the test matches, especially in other's captaincy. His attitude during keeping the wickets, collecting balls from the fielders, the way he batted in Chennai, all leading to the doubt whether he is capable of playing test match cricket.

Pathan, as usual, an upcoming all rounder was alone in the crease fighting the losing battle. He was not out on 43 when the remaining batsman fell cheaply--Kumble bowled by Harris for 5, Harbhajan, once again leg before for Steyn, RP Singh caught at slips of Steyn and Sreesanth bowled by Nitni for 17. RP Singh was hit on the helmet by Steyn and the next ball went at shoulder level which he edged to slips.

Sreesanth hit a six of Steyn, stepping out and hitting a baseball shot over mid wicket, but that didn't have any value as far as saving the match is concerned.

For South Africa, Steyn and Nitni picked 3 wickets each, Morkel 2, Kallis and Harris one each.

During the post match presentation, Kumble said: "It was difficult to come back after getting bowled out for 76. They took the game away from us. We have been in this situation before. I thought the effort from our bowlers was 100%. We will bounce back."

Graeme Smith: "This was the perfect Test match for us. We dominated from the start. It was hard work for the bowlers today on a heavy outfield. It's been fantastic for AB and Kallis. The guys know we've got one more game to go. They've been focussed throughout the series."

de villiers is the Man of the Match: "I'm just over the moon. Having Kallis around was a good calming effect, especially when I was in the 90s. I enjoyed playing here, and the Ahmedabad fans have been great. Just the perfect Test for us."

Complete Score:

Match: 2nd Test, India v. South Africa
Venue: Ahmedabad (India)
Captains: Kumble (India), Smith (South Africa)
Toss: India and decided to bat
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs
Man of the Match: de Villiers

Score:
India 1st Innings 76 all out in 20 overs (Steyn 5 for 23, Nitni 3 for 18, Morkel 2 for 20)
South Africa 1st Innings 494 for 7 declared in 141.2 overs (Smith 34, McKenzie 42, Kallis 132, de Villiers 217 not out, Sreesanth 2 for 87, Harbhajan Singh 4 for 135)
India 2nd Innings 328 all out in 94.2 overs (VVS Laxman 35, Ganguly 87, Dhoni 52, Pathan 43 not out, Steyn 3 for 91, Nitni 3 for 44, Morkel 2 for 87)

India bundled for 76! Kalis gives lead!

What is happening to the Indian team? Is it a complecency that is set in or is it because of Sachin's absence? I don't think it is the latter.

With a good wicket and just to play out the first session would have given the Indian a huge advantage. Smith would have been by now for losing the toss.

India were bundled out for 76, the 2nd lowest total for India in Indian soil. The previous low total was 75 against West Indies in Ferozha Kotla Ground, Delhi on November 25, 1987. The lowest total by India in an innings was against England on June 20, 1974 in Lords when they were bowled out for 42.

The beautiful bowling by Steyn and Nitni rattled the Indian batsman. Excpet Dhoni and Pathan, no one crossed double figure except the extras, which in fact was the second highest in the Indian innings--19.

Jaffer was the first batsman to go, when he edged the well pitched ball to slips for 6. The in form batsman Shewag--triple centurian, dragged the ball to the stumps in the next over for 9. Laxman didn't read the in swinger. He left the ball to the wicket keeper, but it kissed the outer edge of the off stump.

Two balls later, Ganguly, was half-minded on whether to leave or play, dragged the ball to the stumps for 0. Nitni struck twice in the same over. India was struggling at 30 for 4. Out of this 4, three were picked by Nitni.

Dhoni and Dravid were expected to restore the reputation of India, but Dravid was bowled by a blinder from Steyn. The ball pitched on the middle and swung away, Dravid, playing forward missed it completely and it knocked the off stump. Beautiful piece of bowling by Steyn.

Rash shot by Dhoni sent him to pavilion. When he tried to hit ball which was pitched well away from the off stump, the ball took the egde and Boucher accepted hit with ease. He was out for 14 leaving India struggle at 55 for 6 in the 15th over of the match.

Though Pathan was styaing in the crease, none of the tail enders provided him support. Kumble was bowled for 0 by Morkel, Harbhajan leg before for 1 off Steyn, RP Singh was caught at slips for a duck off Steyn and in the same over Sreesanth was bowled for a duck.

Four players were out for duck and three players did not even cross 5 run mark. It is not the first time the tail enders were dismissed for cheap runs, it happened in Chennai also.

Pathan was not out on 21 and only 6 players were able to play more than 9 balls off which only 2 were able to go beyond 20 balls. The highest number of ball was played by Dravid--26, followed by Dhoni--22.

The Indian team batting was tormented well before the first half of the day. Their batting was completed in 20 overs and in 109 minutes--less than 2 hours.

Steyn ended with 5 for 23, his best against India. Nitni picked 3 wickets and Morkel 2.

With a good opportunity to post as many runs as lead, South Africa started the innings well with an one more 50 run partnership. When they cross the Indian score and got 2 runs lead, Smith was judged leg before, a doubtful decision though off Sreesanth. He was bowling over the wicket and the ball pitched on the leg stump. He was out for 34.

McKenzie was the next to go, caught at slips off a doosra by Harbhajan. He played for the turn, but it went straight. Dravid took a good catch.

Amla, the centurian in Chennai was caught at short leg off Harbhajan for 16. Prince was plumb in front of the wicktet for 2. At this stage, India could have put more pressure, but Kallis and de Villiers studied the innings well and played sensible cricket. At the end of the day, South Africa were 223 for 4 with Kallis on 60 and de Villiers on 59. Harbhajan picked 3 off the 4 wickets.

With alrady 147 runs ahead, every run counts for both the teams. India has very minor chance of winning this test. It would be 99.99: 00.01 ratio.