India outclass SA to win Durban Test

India outclassed South Africa by 87 runs to win the second Test and level the three-match series at 1-1, on Day 4 at Kingsmead, Durban, on Wednesday.

South Africa were bowled out for 215 in 72.3 overs in their second innings with pacers Zaheer Khan (three for 57) and S Sreesanth (three for 54) claiming three wickets each.

Ashwell Prince was left stranded on 39 from 108 balls after Lonwabo Tsotsobe was run out by Cheteshwar Pujara for a duck.

S Sreesanth continued his impressive showing with the ball, claiming three for 45 in 14 overs and Zaheer took three for 46, while Harbhajan Singh (2 for 55) was the other wicket-taker.

Jacques Kallis (17) was the first to fall on day four; he was surprised by an express delivery from Sreesanth that bounced steeply and could only fend it to Virender Sehwag at gully.

AB de Villiers was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan for 33, struck on his pads right in front of the stumps.

Zaheer then claimed two quick wickets, trapping Mark Boucher leg before wicket for one, before having Dale Steyn caught at third slip for 10. He added another wicket after the tea break when he bowled Paul Harris for seven.

On day three, VVS Laxman fell short of a deserved century to help India post 228 in their second innings. The veteran batsman hit a fluent 96 from 171 balls, inclusive of 12 fours, before he was the last wicket to fall, caught behind off pacer Dale Steyn.

S SreesanthThe Indian bowlers had earlier put the team in control as South Africa were dismissed for a paltry 131 in 37.2 overs in their first innings, after India had folded for 205 in 65.1 overs with as many as 18 wickets falling on day two.

Zaheer showed the way with a remarkable spell of three for 29, while Harbhajan ran through the middle and lower order for wonderful figures of four for 10 in 7.2 overs.

India's fielding also rose to the occasion, some unbelievable catches being taken.

Hashim Amla was South Africa's top-scorer with 33 and Alviro Petersen made 24; no other batsman could cross the 20-run mark.

Morning session: (71 runs, 32 overs, 4 wickets)

Resuming on 111 for three in 27 overs, South Africa looked to negotiate the early overs as Kallis and de Villiers played it safe.

Sreesanth settled on a good line and length while Harbhajan continued probing the batsmen as both built pressure by stopping the flow of runs.

Sreesanth's perseverance was finally rewarded with the big wicket of Kallis, for 17. The Kerala pacer got one to bounce sharply off a good length and Kallis could only fend it to Virender Sehwag at gully.

Sreesanth bowled a wonderful spell of five overs in the morning, taking one wicket for seven runs; he didn't offer the batsmen anything, while resorting to a good line and length.

Harbhajan struck a few overs later with the wicket of AB de Villiers. The right-hander, who made 33 from 76 balls, was struck on the pads right in front of the stumps by a straighter delivery from the off-spinner, bowling round the wicket.

Although replays showed that the ball could have bounced over the stumps, it looked plumb to the naked eye.

Zaheer also got among the wickets when he trapped Mark Boucher (1) leg before wicket with one that came in sharply.

Dale Steyn was lucky when his edge off Harbhajan flew just past a diving Rahul Dravid at first slip for a boundary, in the 44th over. This was the first boundary for the hosts on day four after a long wait of nearly 17 hours.

He got another boundary through thirdman off Zaheer as he once again got a thick edge. But his charmed life ended soon after.

Zaheer showed his experience as he bowled him a few bouncers before delivering a wide one that Steyn (10) edged and was caught by the third slip fielder.

Ashwell Prince struggled at the start of his innings and took 51 deliveries to hit his first boundary, driving Ishant Sharma through the covers.

Prince (28 from 77 balls) and Paul Harris (7 from 26 balls) survived a testing spell from the Indians pacers before lunch. At the break, South Africa were 182 for seven in 59 overs, still needing 121 runs for victory.

Sreesanth once again rose to the occasion with a fantastic bowling display, claiming three for 45 in 14 overs. Zaheer continued to torment the Proteas as he took two for 45, while Harbhajan got two for 55.

Source: rediff.com