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As Australians are grieving the loss of the Ashes, the Indians are celebrating their team’s stunning victory in Durban against South Africa to square the series one-all after losing the previous Test in Centurion by an innings.
And it was VVS Laxman who made all the difference, helped by bowlers Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth.
This is India’s only second Test win in South Africa in fourteen Tests played there. Humiliated by an innings defeat last week, India bounced back to win the second Test by 87 runs.
So there is hope for Australia. They too can reverse the innings humiliation in Melbourne by winning in Sydney next week to level the series two-all.
India’s win in Durban was all the more remarkable because they were sent in to bat by South Africa on a moist, green pitch.
It appeared to be an action replay of the Centurion disaster when bowled out for 205, fast bowler Dale Steyn capturing 6-50. VVS (38 runs) was the only batsman who looked capable of making runs.
But the return of pace bowler Zaheer Khan made an immediate impact for India. Thrashed for 4 declared 620 in the Centurion Test, the Zaheer-inspired Indians routed South Africans for 131 to gain a 74 run lead. Off-spinner Harbhajan regained his self-belief by taking 4-10 off 7.2 overs. Also India’s fielding was at its best.
Dravid took a screamer in the slip to become the first to take 200 Test catches. It was in his 149th Test. Next best are Australians; Mark Waugh 181 catches in 128 Tests and Ricky Ponting 178 in 152.
Indian batsmen struggled too on a bouncy pitch but were rescued once again by VVS who scored a gallant 96. He was the only one to reach 40 in the entire match.
But he received little support at the other end and India totalled 228. Set 303 to win on an uneven pitch, the South Africans were bowled out for 215 to lose by 87 runs with Sreesanth, Zaheer and Harbhajan sharing wickets.
VVS was the Man of the Match. How many times he has played magical innings in the second innings to help India win Tests home and away?
It may be added that at least two South African batsmen got poor umpiring decisions in this Test. About time that UDRS is used uniformly in all Test matches.
If India wins the final Test in Cape Town next week, it will be for the first time that they will win a Test series in South Africa.
Win or lose, India’s ranking as the No. 1 Test nation is assured for at least a month.