Proteas pulverise India
9 Feb 2010
Dale Steyn claimed 10 wickets in the match as South Africa smashed India by an innings and six runs in Nagpur.
The visitors required eight wickets on the fourth day and although their ground fielding was below-par at times after two full days in the field, for the most part the bowlers remained disciplined.
Steyn will rightfully take the plaudits for his first innings demolition job, but importantly for the South Africans Paul Harris played a holding role on a turning wicket. Harris was attacked by the England batsmen at home and didn’t have the answers, but was allowed to settle by the Indians in this Test, and he restored a degree of confidence after being dropped for The Wanderers encounter last month.
The left-arm spinner still struggled with his length, but went at two an over bowling his leg-stump line from over the wicket and also claimed the wickets of Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar – who scored his 46th Test century – and MS Dhoni.
At 209-6, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh provided some frustration with their 50-run partnerships with Wriddhiman Saha, but once Khan departed after a Jacques Kallis-bouncer, Steyn wrapped up the tail to end with match figures of 10-108.
This was Dhoni’s first Test loss as captain and while no victory in India should be scoffed at, the South Africans will realise the hosts were missing a number of top batsmen in Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, and Rahul Dravid.
Singh and Dravid are likely to be ruled out for the second Test, but Laxman could return and his presence will provide the Indian middle order with greater experience and backbone as South Africa search for the series win that will see them go top of the ICC world rankings.
South Africa (1st innings) – 558-6 declared
Hashim Amla 253, Jacques Kallis 173, AB de Villiers 53, Zaheer Khan 3-96.
India (1st innings) – 233
Virender Sehwag 109, Subramaniam Badrinath 56, Dale Steyn 7-51
India (2nd innings) – 319
Sachin Tendulkar 100, Dale Steyn 3-57, Paul Harris 3-76
South Africa won by an innings and six runs
Click here for full scorecard.
182 Comments
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9 Feb 2010, 07:29 am
Two wickets in the first hour…one more and we’re into the tail.
Go boys, make these flat track bullies jump about.
9 Feb 2010, 07:33 am
and tendulkar dropped off parnell as well i heard!!
9 Feb 2010, 07:37 am
Parnell all over ms donut..
9 Feb 2010, 07:46 am
see what happens when you get rid of the ramp model pansy quota coach, suddenly the boykie’s come out blazing firing on all 12 cylinders.
9 Feb 2010, 07:57 am
Ramp model pansy quota coach
Stop talking out your bum you old goat
9 Feb 2010, 07:58 am
@gunther:
Who does he mean? Ramp model?
9 Feb 2010, 07:59 am
@skopskiet:
Imagine what would happen if we got rid of the other quota’s as well…..Duminy and Prince.
9 Feb 2010, 08:00 am
@Connag:
Duminy has to carry the team kit so he can stay.
9 Feb 2010, 08:00 am
@skopskiet: Next in line is Boucher
9 Feb 2010, 08:03 am
is Boucher back at wicketkeeper?
9 Feb 2010, 08:03 am
Boucher you mean the joint player of the series against England?
You appear to as much about cricket as skopskiet…
9 Feb 2010, 08:23 am
@gunther: 11
No G…i heard he was injured and went off the field…i want to know if he is okay?
I am a huge Boucher fan by the way!
9 Feb 2010, 08:26 am
I was replying to the mighty veruca…
9 Feb 2010, 08:35 am
@gunther: okay…
9 Feb 2010, 08:50 am
@grant10:
Boucher’s back is sore – shouldn’t be anything serious, might just need some rest.
Fortunately we are lucky enough to have AB in the squad as well.
9 Feb 2010, 08:59 am
@skopskiet:
As I said in response to your ‘quota’ comment on the other thread…
Of course, the facts tell you Mickey was appointed by the quota CEO, Gerald Majola, because Smiffy wanted someone he could maniupulate.
But then you’ve never been one to be weighed down by facts, hey Skop?
I suggest you aim your ire in the right direction, Skop. His name is Gerald Majola.
I do agree, though, that Arthur was useless.
9 Feb 2010, 08:59 am
Boucher is back keeping today…
And Harris has bowled 17 overs 1/23. Very economical stuff!
All the while the little master heads for 100 number 45. What a genius he is
9 Feb 2010, 09:01 am
@Joe Maher: Gerald seems like quite a dictator. He’s CEO, now he’s named himself chairman of selectors… What next? Player/Coach? President?
9 Feb 2010, 09:02 am
Harris is bowling a foot outside leg stump and the Indians are just kicking him away it’s quite pointless really..
9 Feb 2010, 09:04 am
@gunther: That’s were the rough is mate. If he hits the correct spot it spits and makes it very difficult to play. As Dhoni found in the first innings
9 Feb 2010, 09:15 am
Parnell need to come to the party, too many wide deliveries.
Why does he come around the wicked? All he is doing is bowling in a straight line with no movement. Had he come over he would have an angle to work with.
9 Feb 2010, 09:18 am
Harris is not an attacking spinner.
What SA needs is an attacking spinner, I know some people love to blow his trumpet but he’s very limited in his repertoire.
Thank goodness for Dale Steyn’s spell yesterday but what’s going to happen when our quicks don’t fire?
I wouldn’t bet my house on Harris picking up a fiver. Having said that, I’m happy for him to hold fort, that’s only because we don’t have any alternatives……..I’d be tempted to give Johan Botha a go, he can spin the ball more than Harris.
9 Feb 2010, 09:20 am
@onerb: I think he tryin to get it to straighten off the pitch but I agree over the wicket is always more dangerous from a leftie
9 Feb 2010, 09:22 am
@Jozi: Botha hardly spins it more really, I mean maybe slightly but it eould be reaaly similar.
They both rely on variation in flight, angle on the crease and changes of pace
9 Feb 2010, 09:28 am
It’s good to see steyn developing reverse swing in his action. He didn’t have it 2 years ago.
Now when his pace fades he will still be able to continue. Not like makhaya that only had one stock ball. Once the pace fades so does his value.
Now if you can swing it both ways and use reverse swing from over 40 onwards, that’s why he is Nr 1 in the world, I would say he will stay there for the next year.
9 Feb 2010, 09:32 am
@onerb: He’s got it all. Very exciting. I can see him, Parnell and Morkel being our pace attack for a long time.
9 Feb 2010, 09:43 am
@WP_: Herra relies on being able to dry up the runs and then sledging the batsmen until they make a mistake.
His skill set as an international spinner is disturbingly limited.
I’m no expert on spin bowling but we urgently need a spinner who can ask a few more questions of top class batsmen and Herra is not that spinner…….like I said, I’m happy for him to hold fort but he doesn’t give the ball a lot of rip.
9 Feb 2010, 09:47 am
@Jozi: Agree with what, but he a fighter, it shows in his batting, and he gets vital wickets but he’s not going to bowl sides out on his own unless it’s a raging turner.
I think people have unrealistic expectaions of Harry as a spinner. He does a good job a reckon and until there is a better man for the job (I’m thinking Imran Tahir) we’ll have to stick with him… and back him,,,
9 Feb 2010, 09:49 am
@WP_:
tiger I know thats where the rough is but the tactic is not working time to change it up….
9 Feb 2010, 09:51 am
When a spinner forces you into a defensive run-restricted frame of mind, you tend to go after the other bowlers instead. You take unnecessary risks against THEIR bowling and go out. The economical spinner has succeeded for his team in building up the frustration among the opposing batsmen. It’s all part of a subtle test cricketing mind-game where the spinner is the puppeteer and the batsmen are the puppets.
Roughnecks who think that biff-bash 20/20 or ODIs are still “real cricket” instead of them being just a gaudy pyjama party with stumps will never begin to understand any of the subtleties and nuances of the five-day game.
9 Feb 2010, 09:52 am
@WP_: Botha chucks.
9 Feb 2010, 09:54 am
@TheTackler: As you’ve said before…
So does Shaun Tait by the way
9 Feb 2010, 09:55 am
@gunther: Yeah, but he;s tying them down…
Dunno
9 Feb 2010, 09:55 am
@WP_: Yeah but bowling a foot and half outside leg stump is not going to help our course we need him to be more attacking I reckon. Flight the ball more, try and out-think the Indian duo of Dhoni and Tendulkar.
Those two are too experienced to be lulled into getting themselves out by sweeping across the line to a ball that’s pitching outside leg especially given the match situation.
9 Feb 2010, 09:57 am
even a broken watch is right twice a day…. harro takes a wicket and then seems to injure himself during the celebrations…. I know you don’t take a wcket very often but seriously?
9 Feb 2010, 09:57 am
@gunther: What do you suggest bowling around… But them he doesnt really get enough turn. And if there’s rough then use it.
Hold that…
Harris to Tendulkar OUT!
BOWLED HIM
9 Feb 2010, 09:59 am
@Jozi: Well it just did…
9 Feb 2010, 09:59 am
@TheTackler: Point taken tickles but you can’t be bowling 6/6 deliveries there. The best spinners know how to get the perfect balance between attack and defence…..Herra has now gone into ultra defensive mode.
The wee maestro has now gone to his 45th test hunderd….what a player.
9 Feb 2010, 10:00 am
@gunther: give him credit
9 Feb 2010, 10:00 am
Well miracles do happen now and again… So Harris got lucky?? Lol
9 Feb 2010, 10:02 am
Eish too slow on the keyboard today….well done Herra but that tactic is not going to guarantee success every time.
Now Steyn needs to be brought back to mop up the tail and get his 10 wickets in the match.
9 Feb 2010, 10:08 am
@wpw: No he didnt
9 Feb 2010, 10:10 am
Jozi, as you did mention. You clearly are not an expert on spin bowling
The art of spin bowling is not only to turn the ball by yards (eg. Kumble doesn’t do that either), it’s also the subtle variations in pace and bounce. That is where Harris’s strengths are.
You said something about fivers. Harro has taken fivers against 3 top countries already and is learning all the time, while we all need to accept the truth about Botha…. He’s a chucker.
42.5 9 127 6 v Australia 19 Mar 2009
36.0 13 73 5 v Pakistan 1 Oct 2007
37.0 10 123 5 v England 16 Dec 2009 15.4 5 35 4 v West Indies 26 Dec 2007 20.2 6 46 4 v Pakistan 11 Jan 2007 37.0 3 129 4 v India 2 Jan 2007
9 Feb 2010, 10:12 am
You make your own luck no?
9 Feb 2010, 10:18 am
Damn Harry just got Saha out caught at silly point but NOT given
9 Feb 2010, 10:18 am
Well, Harris bagged TWO top order stumps, including clean bowling Tendulkar (arguably the best batsman in the world).
Not too shabby, I’d say.
And look at the economy! Under 2 an over with both batsmen having their eye well and truly in!
9 Feb 2010, 10:20 am
@TheTackler: Is he your brother or something?
You normally hate South Africans…
9 Feb 2010, 10:23 am
@boerinbeton: And you are?
Yes spin bowling is about variations in this that and the other…..Given Pakistan and West Indies schizophrenic nature, I’m not sure how much one can read into that……
The other two occasions he took fivers it was in particularly high scoring affairs.
I agree with you that Kumble didn’t spin it much neither does Vetorri but they achieve better results.
I’m not knocking Herra, just saying he’s too limited and he’s not the answer to our spin bowling debacle…..not in the long term anyway.
9 Feb 2010, 10:24 am
No one is suggesting that Harro is a top spinner like Warne or Murali, but we should give the boy a break.
After 28 Matches:
Harris has 85 wickets at 33; Vettori had 91 wickets at 34
Considering he is back up to Steyn and Morkel. I think it’s worthwhile investing in him for some more years.
The same is true for Prince. All these arguments about him not being an opener makes little sense considering that G.Kirsten, H. Gibbs, AB de Villiers and N. Mckenzie has opened plenty for SA and none of them started of as openers.
All the talk about Duminy is even worse. There is too much talent. He will return to form. (I would invest more time in his spinning ability as well)
We’re looking good today. If any of those last wicket stands againat England failed, we’d have been close to top of the world by now.
That is exactly where we are. Close….. But not clear leaders yet.
9 Feb 2010, 10:26 am
@WP_: 44 Yes you do.
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