Perfect end to Kallis’ farewell
31 Dec 2013 6:32 AM IST
Needing to bat out the entire fifth day’s play at the Kingsmead to force a draw, the Indians had the worst possible start by losing Virat Kohli in the very first ball and never really recovered from the jolt to be bundled out for 223.
Ajinkya Rahane stood bravely amidst the ruins with a gutsy 96 and was the last man out. India were pegged back after losing five wickets in the morning session.
Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson (4/74) was pick of the bowler for the hosts with a four-wicket haul while pacemen Dale Steyn (3/47) and Vernon Philander (3/43) scalped three batsmen each.
South Africa then chased down the small 58-run target in 11.4 overs overs as skipper Graeme Smith (27) hit a six and a four off Rohit Sharma to record their first win at Kingsmead. Alviro Petersen remained unbeaten on 31.
The victory was a befitting farewell gift to their retiring hero Kallis, who himself had a memorable match by cracking his 45th Test hundred.
Smith’s cover drive to fence triggered off celebrations in the home camp with the players hugging each other and shaking hands while the spectators also cheered the team. For the Indians, it turned out to be a heart-breaking end to the tour, having been drubbed in the One-day series as well. The loss was all the more disappointing since the team had fought gallantly in the thrilling drawn Test in Johannesburg.
It is the fifth time that India have lost a Test series on South African soil, managing a 1-1 draw only once in 2010-11 rubber. India have never won a series in South Africa and now have lost nine of the last 10 overseas Tests. Rahane played a fine rearguard innings scoring 96 runs off 157 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, a lone hand with none of the frontline batsmen making an important contribution in order to save the match.
After Steyn and Peterson did the early damage, Philander chipped in and Morne Morkel (0/34) provided able support as the Indians lost five wickets for 105 runs in the morning session.
Starting at 173 for 7 after lunch, all that was left for Rahane and Zaheer Khan to do was delay the inevitable as long as possible. And they did it for nearly 10 overs, as Rahane started farming the strike.
With the Proteas pacers unable to get the breakthrough and the second new ball fast approaching, Peterson was brought on in the 76th over and the move paid off two overs later, with Zaheer being trapped LBW. He scored three runs, but faced 41 balls, and put up 35 runs with Rahane.
Rahane then brought out his shots in order to get to his maiden Test hundred, as he raced to the 90s. At the other end, Steyn got Ishant Sharma (1) in the 85th over and celebrated his 350th Test wicket with vigour. And in the very next over, Rahane was bowled by Philander, a huge swipe gunning for glory missing and the stumps shattered.
BRIEF SCORES:
South Africa 500 & 59-0 beat India 334 & 223 by 10 wickets.
Ajinkya Rahane stood bravely amidst the ruins with a gutsy 96 and was the last man out. India were pegged back after losing five wickets in the morning session.
Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson (4/74) was pick of the bowler for the hosts with a four-wicket haul while pacemen Dale Steyn (3/47) and Vernon Philander (3/43) scalped three batsmen each.
South Africa then chased down the small 58-run target in 11.4 overs overs as skipper Graeme Smith (27) hit a six and a four off Rohit Sharma to record their first win at Kingsmead. Alviro Petersen remained unbeaten on 31.
The victory was a befitting farewell gift to their retiring hero Kallis, who himself had a memorable match by cracking his 45th Test hundred.
Smith’s cover drive to fence triggered off celebrations in the home camp with the players hugging each other and shaking hands while the spectators also cheered the team. For the Indians, it turned out to be a heart-breaking end to the tour, having been drubbed in the One-day series as well. The loss was all the more disappointing since the team had fought gallantly in the thrilling drawn Test in Johannesburg.
It is the fifth time that India have lost a Test series on South African soil, managing a 1-1 draw only once in 2010-11 rubber. India have never won a series in South Africa and now have lost nine of the last 10 overseas Tests. Rahane played a fine rearguard innings scoring 96 runs off 157 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, a lone hand with none of the frontline batsmen making an important contribution in order to save the match.
After Steyn and Peterson did the early damage, Philander chipped in and Morne Morkel (0/34) provided able support as the Indians lost five wickets for 105 runs in the morning session.
Starting at 173 for 7 after lunch, all that was left for Rahane and Zaheer Khan to do was delay the inevitable as long as possible. And they did it for nearly 10 overs, as Rahane started farming the strike.
With the Proteas pacers unable to get the breakthrough and the second new ball fast approaching, Peterson was brought on in the 76th over and the move paid off two overs later, with Zaheer being trapped LBW. He scored three runs, but faced 41 balls, and put up 35 runs with Rahane.
Rahane then brought out his shots in order to get to his maiden Test hundred, as he raced to the 90s. At the other end, Steyn got Ishant Sharma (1) in the 85th over and celebrated his 350th Test wicket with vigour. And in the very next over, Rahane was bowled by Philander, a huge swipe gunning for glory missing and the stumps shattered.
BRIEF SCORES:
South Africa 500 & 59-0 beat India 334 & 223 by 10 wickets.
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