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Rediff.com  » Sports » Images: India-South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 5

Images: India-South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 5

Last updated on: February 18, 2010 18:47 IST

Image: Hashim Amla plays one through the covers
Photographs: Reuters

The morning session of the final day's play in the second Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata went according to plan for the South Africans, as they kept the Indian bowlers at bay for the first hour.

But the visitors scored only 19 runs in 14 overs.

India's bowling was weakened, as Zaheer Khan was ruled out of the remainder of the Test with an injury.

Hashim Amla scored his third successive Test century -- 123 not out -- but couldn't prevent South Africa from being dismissed for 290 in their second innings. 

India won the Test by an innings and 57 runs to draw the series 1-1 and retain the No 1 Test ranking.

 

 

Bhajji picks Prince

Image: Harbhajan celebrates after he picked up Aswell Prince

The spinners got purchase from the wicket, but the slowness of the surface gave the batsmen enough time to adjust.

Amit Mishra toiled as India introduced spin at both ends. The move paid off. After nearly two hours, India made the breakthrough, when Harbhajan got the wicket of Ashwell Prince, having him caught at mid-off by Ishant Sharma.

Prince was out after a stubborn innings of 23 from 80 deliveries; he was at the wicket for 123 minutes.

Harbhajan then struck in the fourth over after the lunch break, trapping J P Duminy leg before wicket for six.

The left-hander played back from the crease, but was beaten by one that did not turn much and was caught plumb in front of the stumps; it ended a miserable series for him.

Mishra has South Africa wobbling

Image: AB de Villiers trapped plumb in front

One wicket resulted in another. AB de Villiers scored just three before he was foxed by a googly from Mishra; he played down the wrong line and was trapped plumb leg before wicket.

After a frustrating two hours, India ended end the morning on a high, with two wickets in the last half an hour of the session.

The Indian spinners toiled in the session. They piled on the pressure, giving away just 49 runs in 35 overs, and were rewarded with two wickets.

Amla completes yet another ton

Image: Hashim Amla reacts after he celebrates his century

Amla continued his amazing run of form, registering his third century in three straight innings in the series. It took him 268 deliveries to reach the milestone -- his second century in the Test.

Interestingly, India coach Gary Kirsten had also achieved the feat for South Africa, scoring 102 and 133 against India at Kolkata in 1996-97.

Amla was superb, as he remained unbeaten on 123, having hit 16 boundaries in his 394-ball knock. He thwarted the Indian bowlers for 499 minutes.

Harbhajan spins India to victory

Image: Harbhajan SIngh celebrates after he picked up Morne Morkel

With the tailenders holding fort and playing out time, the Test headed towards a nail-biting finish. With just two overs left in the day, Harbhajan clinched a memorable victory when he had Morne Morkel leg before wicket.

The fiesty off-spinner ran towards the boundary line and was soon hugged by his teammates who celebrated the victory.

Amla and Morkel had defied the Indians for 124 balls to frustrate the hosts, who just could not get the breakthrough despite deploying an attacking field right through the day.

India won by an innings and 58 runs.