India hands landslide innings win to South Africa in Centurion Test
By ANIMonday, December 20, 2010
CENTURION - Team India lost their final two wickets for only nine runs on Monday to lose the first Test against South Africa at Centurion’s SuperSport Park by an innings and 25 runs.
Resuming the final day on 454-8, India failed to add the 31 runs needed to make the home side bat again.
Sachin Tendulkar, who scored his 50th Test hundred on Sunday, was left stranded on 111 as S. Sreesanth (three) and Jaydev Unadkat (one) were dismissed inside the first six overs of the morning session, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who recorded his first career double century, was named the Man of the Match.
The 35-year-old had scored an unbeaten 201 off 270 balls which included 15 fours and five sixes.
“It was a very special moment. It was a good all-round effort, as we put in a good performance on day one which kept us ahead. Centurion is a big scoring ground and we came into this Test looking to be very positive with both bat and ball,” Kallis said.
Indian captain M.S. Dhoni admitted that the first innings deficit of 484 runs was too much to handle.
“Our bowling has to improve, and we are looking forward to having Zaheer Khan back in the side. I’ve lost quite a few tosses, but it’s important now to take some time off and then get back into the groove,” Dhoni said.
The series continues with the second Test in Durban on December 26, ahead of a final match in Cape Town beginning January 2.
The No.1 ranked Team India is seeking a first Test series win in South Africa in its fifth attempt.
Brief Scorecard:South Africa: Ist Innings:- 620-4 declared (Kallis 201 not out, Hashim Amla 140, Ishant Sharma 2-120)
India: Ist Innings:- 136 (Tendulkar 36, Dhoni 33, Morne Morkel 5-20)
Second Innings:- 459 (Tendulkar 111 not out, Dhoni 90, Dale Steyn 4-105) (ANI)
