Related Links

December 18, 2006 (Link to Scorecard)

Team India had little trouble in completing an historical Test victory on South African soil, their maiden win in ten test matches played on the fast and bouncy wickets in this part of the world. They had five more wickets to take before they could celebrate in the open and it took them just the 28.1 overs to finish their task. A quickfire partnership between Prince and Pollock did give some danger signals to the Indians, but the match was still in their favour as it took one ball to change the complexion of the situation. For the record, India won this match comprehensively by 123 runs having bowled out SA for 278 in their second essay.

Mark Boucher, the overnight batsman with Prince had been lucky in his short innings yesterday and today was no different as he always looks to be positive and goes for his shots. He wasn't dismissed playing a shot but by a wicket taking delivery from Zaheer that had just managed to pitch in line and swing back sharply to trap him in front. That wicket fell in just the third over of the morning! However, there was no quick wicket on offer for the Indians as Shaun Pollock got stuck in there, taking the game to the opposition. Ashwell Prince was doing what he was best at, playing according to the merit of the ball. There was a partnership that was due to build in today's play and it was just matter of time before one ambitious shot or one good delivery that could have put halt to the South African resistance. Pollock raced away to a run-a-ball 40 and the match looked good to go to the second session. It was the one bad shot, a cross batted heave from Pollock to a flat delivery from Kumble that gave India the breakthrough they were waiting for almost an hour. Pollock with his 40 which also included a hook shot off Zaheer for a six had put on 67 with Prince that helped in reducing the margin of defeat that was inevitable.

The workload with the ball and the pressure of taking wickets consistently had taken the toll on the two fast bowlers Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan who almost ran out of fuel this morning. Sreesanth in particular just didn't look energetic. Most of the bowling was done by Anil Kumble who took little time in sending back the best actor of the South African team, Andre Nel with a flipper that got him plumb in front. With just the two wickets in hand and with the possibility of wickets going at any time, Ashwell Prince finally decided to take the risks to try and look out for a century. He got three boundaries from a wayward over from VRV Singh but he fell just three runs short of a century. Prince had come down the track only to york himself to an Anil Kumble's delivery from round the stumps. Kumble couldn't get through the defences of Ntini and Steyn who had come in with a runner in Hashim Amla. So Dravid had brought back Sreesanth along with Zaheer Khan and the second new ball was taken. History was made when Makhaya Ntini in the penultimate ball of the 87th over miscued an attempted lofted shot off Zaheer to be caught by Sehwag at point. And for the first time, India had won a test match in brutal South African conditions shocking everyone with their guts! In their previous tours, there have been instances when they were even bowled out for humiliating totals which were even under 100! This time they indeed reversed the trend and it was the Proteas who were buried for a embarrassing score of 84! The Man of the Match had to go to Sreesanth for his 8 for 99 in just 35 overs along with his spectacular village dance to give one back to Andre Nel!

Nobody gave Dravid's team any chance of winning a test match here. More so after the 0-4 drubbing in the One Day Series where the batsmen just meekly surrendered to the extra sting. But this line up for the Test Match was a different one, it wasn't one filled up with kids learning their cricket at the highest level like the Rainas or Kaifs. It was a team that had lot of maturity and experience in the batting, it wasn't just Tendulkar and Dravid but also two more guys who are as good as these two are on their day - VVS Laxman and the Royal Bengal Tiger, Sourav Ganguly. The batsmen set the game up by putting on some runs on the board for the bowlers to bowl at. A total of 249 seemed too big on this wicket especially on the first and the second day. Sreesanth and Zaheer destroyed the South African batting in the first innings and since then it was no looking back and no stopping, no rain and nothing that could prevent Rahul Dravid's team to get into the history books!

Johannesburg has been conquered now but with two more tests left, India will have to get ready to face a strong South African revenge that should take place. The Proteas would definitely raise their game and will come firing on all cylinders at Durban. It's all up to the Indian batsmen to discipline themselves like how they did at Jo'burg and leave the rest to the bowlers who are bound to take wickets in the seamer friendly conditions overseas! For now Sreesanth, Zaheer and co. would be advised to refresh themselves and recharge their batteries for the next battle that starts on the Boxing Day, December 26th!

Top of the Page