Poochandi

February 09, 2010

Dale Steyn took ten wickets in the match as South Africa beat India by an innings and 6 runs on Day 4 of the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Apart from Sachin Tendulkar, who hit his 46th century, none of the Indian batsmen applied themselves in the second innings and caved in under pressure at the VCA stadium in Nagpur on Tuesday.

South Africa struck the fourth day's first blow when Murali Vijay, looking quite compact and sound in defense against the pace duo of Steyn and Morne Morkel, fell to a poor shot selection.

The partnership between Vijay and Tendulkar produced 72 runs. The pair had got together late Monday evening after India had lost openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag by the fifth over.

Tendulkar was lucky to see his glide off Wayne Parnell grassed by Jacques Kallis - the lone slip - while on 45 in first over after the first drinks break.But two other similar shots, played with fine control, to the third man fence fetched Tendulkar his half-century. It took him only 51 balls on Day 4 to reach the landmark from his overnight 15 and included seven hits to the fence.

Badrinath, who made 56 in his debut innings on Day 3, could not stay longer as he nicked one off Parnell to Mark Boucher and his fall brought home skipper to the crease.

Tendulkar and Dhoni took India to lunch at 162/4.

Tendulkar hit his 46th century after lunch when he played a Parnell delivery to point for a single. This was Tendulkar's first century against South Africa in India and his third century in as many Test matches as he got centuries in the last two Tests against Bangladesh.

The fall of wicket ended a defying 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Tendulkar and Dhoni.

Tendulkar's fighting knock came off 179 balls with 13 boundaries.Harris was at it again as he soon scalped Dhoni, dealing a brutal blow to Indian hopes.

Dhoni was sent back after attempting a defensive prod to a ball that spun across and landed in silly point fielder AB de Villiers' hands.He was out after a stubborn 144-minute stay in which he faced 112 balls and hit three fours.

After tea, Harbhajan Singh gave the Indian spectators something to cheer about by hitting a six and three fours in his run-a-ball 39. But his entertaining knock was cut short by Parnell who trapped him plumb in front of the wicket.

With a 59-run partnership, Wriddhiman Saha (36) and Zaheer Khan (33) delayed the inevitable but once they were dismissed, India crashed to an innings defeat as Steyn took the last two wickets to fall.