In a nail biting finish of the second test match at Eden garden Kolkata, India able to beat South Africa by an inning and 57 runs to win the match and level the series which allowed India to retain their number one test ranking. For this, India will be awarded $175000 by ICC in first week of March and also they will retain the crown which was awarded by ICC to India when they have achieved that ranking last year. At one stage it look like that South Africa will be able to save this game by riding on marathon inning of Hashim Amla (123* of 394 balls) and valiant effort from M.Morkel (12 runs of 60 balls) but Harbhajan Singh has other idea as he removed M.Morkel just 9 balls before the schedule close of play to give India a much needed win. As soon as last wicket fall, Eden Garden crowd erupt in a joy and excitement and why not India showed to the world why they are sitting at number one position in ICC ranking. After the heavy lost in Nagpur test, they bounced back tremendously to level the series. This game will be remembered not only for exciting finish but also for the gutsy and determined knock of Hashim Amla who player superman knock to almost save the game for his country. Earlier South Africa started cautiously in the first hour of play but Harbhajan and Mishra double blow kept India in a hunt of victory in the first session of play. Just after lunch Harbhajan removed J.P. Duminy and Dale Styen in quick succession to raise the hope of Indians of finishing the game before tea but valiant effort from W.Parnell (22 runs 64 balls) with Hashim Amla guided South Africa to tea without any further damage. South Africa went on to tea with 250/7, but just after tea Ishant Sharma removed Parnell and Harris in quick succession to bring India insight of famous win with 21 overs in the bag for the Indians to take the last wicket. But M.Morkel and Amla denies India for almost 20 overs before the great moment arrives and in the second last over of the day, Harbhajan Singh removed Morkel to take his 23 rd five wicket haul and hands India a famous win. Hashim Amla was declared Player of the Match and Player of the series. He has scored 490 runs with an average of 490.00 in this two match test series. Match Summary (India won by an inning and 57 runs) South Africa 1st Inning– 296/10 in 85 Overs H.Amla- 114 A.Petersen– 100 Zaheer Khan- 22-5-90-4 Harbhajan Singh– 24-2-64-3 India 1st Inning– 643/6 dec in 153 Overs V.Sehwag- 165 V.V.S. Laxman– 143* Dale Styen- 26-3-115-2 J.P.Duminy– 15-0-73-1 South Africa 2nd Inning– 290/10 in 131.3 Overs H.Amla- 123* A.Prince– 23 Harbhajan Singh– 48.3-23-59-5 A.Mishra - 40-12-78-3 |
