da bwin： South Africa, a class apart from first ball to last, swept to a thoroughly deserved innings-and-90-run victory inside three days to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series
The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran at Motera05-Apr-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Morne Morkel took two crucial middle-order wickets as South Africa swept to a comprehensive win and a 1-0 lead in the series © AFP
Sourav Ganguly stood on the burning deck nearly four hours for a fine 87as India’s misadventure at Motera ended with ugly scars that may take a while to heal. South Africa, a class apart from first ball to last, swept to a thoroughly deserved innings-and-90-run victory inside three days and cannot lose a series that was billed as the contest for the No.2 ranking behind Australia.Ganguly added 110 with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and 55 with VVS Laxman,exhibiting all the determination and poise that had been conspicuouslyabsent in India’s abject first innings. But once Dale Steyn, wicketlessuntil then, returned to tempt him into a drive from round the wicket, thematch was only ever going to have one outcome. Ganguly stood his ground,and replays suggested the noise that alerted Tony Hill mighthave been bat striking ground, but the South Africans were convinced thatthere had been a big deflection.His dismissal completely changed the course of a final session that hadstarted encouragingly for the home side, with Ganguly playing somedelicate cuts off Paul Harris and a beautiful straight push off MorneMorkel. With Dhoni in dogged and restrained mood, it was Ganguly whoworked the bowlers, until the decisive moment when Graeme Smith tossed theball Steyn’s way.Dhoni reached his half-century from 122 balls soon after, but with Smithcalling on his big guns, the resistance was swiftly ended. MakhayaNtini saw off Dhoni, pitching one perfectly in the off-stump corridorto induce the expansive drive. Smith made no mistake at slip.Harris was swung for one huge six by Irfan Pathan, but otherwise bottledup one end and was rewarded for his effort with the wicket of Anil Kumble,bowled through the gap between bat and pad. That was enough for Smith tocall for the new ball, five overs late, and Steyn soon struck, trappingHarbhajan Singh in front. The subsequent flurry of strokes from Pathan andSreesanth did little more than delay the popping of the champagne corks.In truth, India’s fate was sealed in a morning session where they lostboth Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. With rain falling heavily theprevious evening, Smith had declared on the overnight total of 494 for 7.Needing 418 just to make South Africa bat again, the Indian innings hadthe most bizarre start. Steyn strove for express pace, and Sehwagresponded with two stunning strokes, a swivel-pull and a clip off thepads, both of which sailed over the rope for sixes.But after surviving an excellent leg-before shout from Ntini, Sehwag’sluck ran out. The second time Ntini thudded one into the pad, Hill raisedthe finger. Dravid, best equipped to deal with the conditions, came in andgot going with a lovely flick for four off Ntini, but Wasim Jaffer washaving a torrid time at the other end, squared up by Ntini and then luckyto escape after a superb short ball from Morkel had him popping one upinto no-man’s land.A beautiful cover drive soon after lifted the spirits somewhat, and whenJacques Kallis replaced Ntini, Jaffer greeted him with an emphatic pullfor four. The partnership was worth 33 when Morkel struck with a deliverythat climbed steeply up at Dravid. He tried to drop the ball to his feet, butcouldn’t quite get on top of it, and the edge was neatly caught by AB deVilliers at third slip.
Sourav Ganguly made a fluent 87, but his knock only delayed the inevitable defeat © AFP
Jaffer followed in similar fashion, caught on the crease and squared up bya Kallis delivery that angled in, and it was left to Ganguly and Laxman totry and salvage a modicum of pride. Laxman was in splendid touch, playingsome magnificent drives down the ground and tucking the ball off his padswith time to spare. Soon after lunch, though, Smith replaced Steyn withMorkel, and after Laxman had caressed two fours, the breakthrough arrived.A delivery outside off stump, a statuesque swish, and thin contact withthe back of the bat on the way to Mark Boucher. Laxman’s 35 had taken just45 balls, but India needed so much more.Every South African bowler tested Ganguly with the short ball, but hesuffered his most anxious moments against the deliveries that slantedacross him. A beautiful square-drive off Morkel and a crisp off-drive offSteyn saw him find his range, and Dhoni’s arrival allowed the strike totick over steadily.Dhoni chanced his arm as he’s prone to. A cut off Steyn flashed throughgully and after he had whipped Harris through midwicket, he got his firststroke of luck. A short ball from Steyn, a miscued hook, and a completebungle on the long-leg rope from Ntini, who had wandered too far in. Steynwasn’t very pleased and he showed it, and there was further cause forfrowns just before tea when a rash charge at Harris saw Boucher fluff atough stumping chance.Ganguly swept Harris neatly for four, and reached his 50 from just 86deliveries. It was brave stuff, but you sensed that it would ultimately beas futile as trying to paddle up the Amazon with a broken oar. Afterstinking up the place on the first morning, the good ship India deservedonly the cold ocean floor.