Cricket Update: Centurion Test- India beaten comprehensively by South Africa
India the top ranked test team was expected to play the South African side with a lot of competence and diligence. The fans and the speculators certainly demanded a lot from the game as it was being played between two cricketing giants.
Nothing as expected happened during the course of the game as South Africa completely dominated the Indian side. South Africa won the first test at Centurion by an innings and 25 runs. South Africa depicted a strong statement of intent upon the Indians by
dictating terms throughout the game.
South Africa won the toss and chose to field. On a track that looked completely dry and dead with nothing in it for the bowlers, Smith expected to use some moisture that was present on the first day morning. The trick certainly worked as they booked India
at a low total of just 136 runs.
Things could not have been much worse for India that in reply to their poor batting display, their bowlers seemed very ordinary against the mighty South Africa who posted a total of 620 runs before declaring with the loss of just four wickets. The top five
batsmen of South Africa team seemed in full control as they thoroughly dominated the Indian bowling attack.
Graeme Smith and Alviro Peterson scored half centuries to give South Africa a 111 runs opening stand. Hashim Amla and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 scored centuries while the most ecstatic batting display which completely dictated the terms to the Indian bowling attack
came from Jacques Kallis who scored a dazzling double century.
The Indian side was left far behind in the race after such dominance shown by South Africa but a fight back was always expected from the rebellious Indian team. In their second innings, India showed some great resistance, which at one stage seemed they might
just end up posting a small target at least, to bring South Africa batsmen out in the field once again.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 batted well to give India an opening stand of 137 runs which provided them with a certain ray of hope. Both these openers scored half centuries. After the opening pair was lost, wickets kept trembling for India until the
legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar arrived on the crease. He along with Mahendera Singh Dhoni put up a great fight to show substantial resistance. Tendulkar scored his 50th Century to prove he is one of the best batsmen present by far in the history
of cricket. Dhoni scored 90 odd runs to give support to Tendulkar in their reign to save the test.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 batting display in the second innings certainly delayed the South African victory but could not manage to save the match. Pick of the bowlers for South Africa for the first innings was Monre Morkel, who took a five wicket haul whereas in the second
innings it was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn who took four wickets to destruct the Indian batting line up. He and Morkel ended the match with a total of 7 wickets each.
This victory by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 right up in the series will provide them with a lot of momentum and will put immense pressure on the Indian team after being suppressed by the mighty South Africa. Will India give a strong reply to the opposition in the next
fixture or will South Africa repeat a similar performance? A lot of expectations from the next game but will they come true? Nothing can be said when the game is played between two cricketing giants, both right at the top of test rankings.
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