OWN CORRESPONDENT, Bangalore | Monday 7.40pm
SOUTH Africa have slammed India by an innings and 71 runs to claim the first home-series win in 13 years, bowling their hosts out for 250 in the second Test at Bangalore and convincingly winning the series 2-0.
India started on Monday looking still to be in a strong position with Mohammad Azharuddin and Anil Kumble at the crease and their side on 196/5. The two batsmen took the fight to the tourists and Azharuddin scored a fine 102 before perishing to Shaun Pollock.
Azhar hooked a short delivery and was caught by Gary Kirsten on the square-leg boundary.
India scored 158 runs in their first-innings to which South Africa replied with 479 runs — a tough ask, but one which Azharuddin took to with gusto.
Kumble was dismissed shortly after Azhar when he padded up to spinner Nicky Boje and was trapped leg-before. Boje ended with figures of 5/83 in 38 overs with 14 maidens, and scored 85 in the South African innings. He also won the man-of-the-match award.
Jacques Kallis was named the man-of-the-series.
After the dismissal of Kumble, wickets came thick and fast, with Murali Kartik dismissed for two runs after being caught by Herschelle Gibbs off the bowling of Boje.
The last wicket that went down on Monday, handing South Africa victory, was that of Nikhil Chopra who was caught by Mark Boucher for three runs off Allan Donald’s bowling.
“We had high hopes coming over here…we are very, very happy with the way it turned out,” said South African skipper Hansie Cronje after the match.
Sachin Tendulkar, who relinquished the captaincy, asked the Indian supporters “to be patient and back us through the bad times.”