South Africa virtually batted India out of the second Test at the Motera Stadium here, taking a commanding 147-run lead in their first innings, and still having six wickets in hand at the close of play on the first day on Thursday.
Ahmedabad, Apr 3 : South Africa virtually batted India out of the second Test at the Motera Stadium here, taking a commanding 147-run lead in their first innings, and still having six wickets in hand at the close of play on the first day on Thursday.
Having bundled India out for 76 in 20 overs, the Proteas batsmen piled up the host's agony by scoring a formidable 223 for four at the close. All their batters managed to get good starts before off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (three wickets) and pacer S. Sreesanth (one wicket) made some inroads into their line-up.
At the close of play, Jacques Kallis with 60 and A. B. deVilliers with 59 were at the crease, promising to quash any chances of India making it back into the match.
Earlier in the day, the searing pace of Dale Steyn (five wickets), Makaya Ntini (three wickets) and Morne Morkel (two wickets) brushed aside the much-vaunted Indian batting line-up for their second lowest score on Indian soil.
Indian captain Anil Kumble won the toss and opted to bat on a pitch that had a smattering of grass, but the Indians batters were left shell-shocked by the Proteas pacers, who scythed through them.
India managed to surpass the 75 scored in New Delhi in 1987 only because South Africa were generous with the extras. Only Irfan Pathan (21 not out) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (14) managed double-digit scores.
It took the South Africa just 14.4 overs to overcome the Indian total. Kallis and de Villiers have added an unbroken 106 for the fifth wicket, and came together, with Harbhajan scenting blood at a venue where he took 10 wickets against Sri Lanka the last time, and the lead was only 41.
ANI