South Africa Trounces India in the first Test
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in a one sided affair by a massive margin of an innings and 25 runs. The home team completely dominated the match from day one as they batted once in the match, and resultantly, they completed
their victory in the first hour of day 5 at Super Sports Park in Centurion. It was just a matter of time as the Proteas only needed less the six overs to go 1-0 up in the three match Test series.
The visitors started their proceedings on the final day with an overnight score of 454 runs for the loss of eight wickets, and in doing so, India survived only 5.5 overs, scoring just 5 runs, failing to avoid an innings defeat.
The overnight batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Sreesanth appeared on the ground to gather some pride. However, Sreesanth lasted only eighteen deliveries, provoking South Africa to go for the kill. Unadkat was the last wicket to fall and Tendulkar remained
unbeaten as the home team did not find a way to dislodge the master batsmen.
In the process, Sachin became the first man to score 50 centuries in Test cricket, though his ton couldn’t prevent his side from loosing. In his unbeaten innings of 111, the master craftsman stroked the red cherry to all parts of the corner and his sweet
timing with the willow was backed up by perfect placement.
Bowling for the home team was superb as they grabbed the last two opposition wickets in almost half an hour. Steyn-Morkel combo did the job for the hosts as they bagged a wicket apiece.
Morkel dismissed his opposite number, Sreesanth with an away going delivery, which landed on around the off-stump and moved away off the seam, Sreesanth poked at the ball as it went straight into the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 at second slip, who made no mistake
in taking the catch cleanly.
Steyn brought about the demise of Unadkat with a vicious bouncer, which was banged in short on the body and Unadkat played an ugly pull shot, and only managed to fend it towards gully, where http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Price-c82662 grabbed a simple catch.
Earlier, India was trailing by 484 runs as a result of their pathetic first innings performance with the bat, scoring an average total of 136 runs. South Africa, on the other hand, replied their opposition in an emphatic manner, amassing a mammoth first
innings score of 620 runs.
It was a Test match of milestones as three South African players registered centuries. And more importantly, Jacques Kallis posted maiden double hundred to power the hosts to a huge score. In addition, the first innings display from the batsmen ensured South
Africa to record their first innings-win against India at home.
India has to come up with something special in the second Test match at Durban, if they have to surprise the home team. On the contrary, it seems difficult to rattle the inform Proteas as they look solid like a mountain.
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