South Africa beat India by 10 wickets in second Test and win series 1-0 to hand Kallis perfect farewell gift

December 31, 2013

South_Africa_beat

Durban, Dec 31: They didn’t use any sobriquets. But they made a telling statement by donning jerseys, the back of which read: ‘THE ONLY PLAYER TO SCORE 10,000 RUNS AND TAKE 200 WICKETS IN TEST CRICKET’. Enough said. Then, they gave him a lap of honour — partly on the shoulders of Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel, largely on foot. A jolly good fan even offered him a can of beer.

He took a big gulp. Then, he thanked everyone from his parents to coaches to teammates to girlfriends. Enough done? Nah, he deserved a grander party. Nevertheless, it was the perfect send-off for the perfect team man.

Yes, South Africa galloped to a 10-wicket victory on the final day of the second and deciding Test at Kingsmead. Yes, Dale Steyn was adjudged Man of the Match for his match haul of 9/147. Yes, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja played awful shots to hasten the completion of the perfect script. Yes, Ajinkya Rahane stood out with an elegant 96 to become India’s find of the tour. Yes, India didn’t register a single win on this tour. Yes, Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher presided over the team’s ninth straight overseas loss.

But the day, much like the Test match, belonged to Jacques Henry Kallis. If not for his fighting 115 in the first innings, India would have left these shores with a commendable 0-0 scoreline against the world’s No. 1 team. But it wasn’t to be. After the humdinger in Johannesburg, where the Proteas came within eight runs of forcing a historic win, came the delight in Durban. Let’s face it: the better team won.

Going into the fifth day, India had three options: bat, bat and bat. But they lasted no more than 50 overs. For the record, the visitors were bowled out for 223 in the second session, thereby setting South Africa a 59-run target. Forty-eight minutes is all it took Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen to seal the deal.

Earlier, resuming at 68/2, India lost Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, two of their most dependable batsmen on this tour, within the space of 15 deliveries. In fact, Kohli was adjudged caught behind off Steyn on the very first ball of the day. If not for India’s hatred for DRS, Kohli would have stayed on and, perhaps, played a match-saving knock. It wasn’t to be. By the way, replays showed that the ball had brushed his sleeve on its way to AB de Villiers.

DRS or no DRS, Pujara was a goner. It was a peach of a delivery from Steyn: fast, furious and full.

It seamed away just a little bit, beat Pujara’s dead bat and that was that. Suddenly, India were 71/4. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane did survive the test of fire; in fact, they even added 33 runs. But all this while, Steyn kept telling Sharma some hard truths. “I have more runs than you in this series,” the pacer sledged. He went on, “You have done nothing in your career.” Sharma retorted: “Let’s see how you bowl in India.”

A lapse in concentration saw Sharma lose his wicket to a Vernon Philander delivery that came back in. Plumb. Out. He was gone for 25. His total for the series: 45. Steyn scored 44 in this Test alone.

India could have still saved the game. But MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja threw it away. At 154/7, an innings defeat was a possibility. But Rahane proved he was made of steel. India went into the lunch break at 173/7, only seven ahead.

After the break, Rahane farmed the strike on most occasions. He showed that he has matured as a batsman as he brought forth the quality that had turned VVS Laxman into a legend — ability to bat with the tail-enders. He kept the South African bowlers sweating it out even an hour after lunch.

Rahane also hit some delicious straight drives. A meaty cut off Philander fetched him six, but with Zaheer Khan becoming Peterson’s fourth victim of the innings and Ishant Sharma giving Steyn his 350th Test wicket, Rahane attempted a slog against Philander, he lost his leg stump for 96.

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News Network
January 13,2020

Mumbai, Jan 13: India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday headlined the BCCI Annual Awards function, grabbing the prestigious Polly Umrigar award apart from annexing the Dilip Sardesai honour for his exploits in international cricket in the 2018-19 season.

Polly Umrigar award is presented to the best male International cricketer and it carries a citation, trophy and cheque for Rs. 15 lakh.

Dilip Sardesai award is conferred on both the highest wicket-taker and highest run-getter in Test cricket. Bumrah took 34 wickets in six matches with three five-wicket hauls.

Prolific Saurashtra batsman Chetshwar Pujara was picked for the honour for scoring 677 runs in 8 matches at an average of 52.07 with three centuries and two half centuries.

Bumrah, the world's number ODI bowler made his Test debut during India's tour of South Africa in January 2018 and hasn't looked back since.

He picked up a five-wicket haul in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies, becoming the first and only Asian bowler to achieve the feat.

He played a stellar role in the historic 2-1 Test series win in Australia, India's first Down Under and which helped them retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

While Bumrah netted the biggest prize in the men's category, Poonam Yadav claimed the top prize in women's section and was awarded the best international cricketer.

The award will be another feather in the leg-spinner's cap who recently received the Arjuna Award.

Former India captains Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anjum Chopra were presented the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award and the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for women respectively.

A member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Srikkanth took on the fearsome West Indies fast bowlers and scored an attacking 38, the top individual score in the low-scoring final at the Lord's.

He also captained India and post-retirement served as the chief selector and it was during his tenure that the 2011 World Cup squad was picked.

Anjum is one of the finest batswomen and the first Indian to play 100 ODIs. In a career spanning 17 years, Anjum represented India in four 50-over World Cups and two T20 World Cup (played in one).

Mayank Agarwal, who emerged as an impact batsman starting with his debut series in Australia in 2018-19, received the best international debut in men's category while talented 15-year-old Shafali Verma grabbed the same in the women's category.

Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube, who impressed in the recently concluded T20 series against Sri Lanka, was presented the Lala Amarnath Award for the best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy while Delhi's Nitish Rana received the same for doing well in the limited overs competition.

India's middle-order batsmwoman Deepti Sharma received the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for best woman cricketer in senior domestic circuit while Shafali was picked for honour in the junior category.

Virender Sharma was adjudged the best umpire in domestic cricket while Vidarbha Cricket Association were presented the best performance award in domestic cricket for wining the Ranji Trophy.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said, “The BCCI Awards is our way of recognising the finest on-field performances right from the age group to senior level and also honour our legends.”

Board secretary Jay Shah said, “We wanted to make Naman bigger and better and have introduced four new categories highest run-getter and wicket-takers in WODIs and best international debut men and women from this year.”

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News Network
July 23,2020

New Delhi, Jul 23: With one year to go for the Olympic Games to begin in Tokyo on July 23, 2021, Indian women's hockey team skipper Rani Rampal on Thursday said the side has performed well against top teams in recent times and can do the same at the Olympics.

The Indian team has competed well against top teams in the recent past and has registered memorable victories at the FIH Series Finals and the FIH Olympic Qualifiers last year.

"We have competed against top teams in the recent past and we have shown that our team has the capability of winning a medal and making our country proud at the Olympics. We have a good group of experienced players, who are guiding the junior players very well. Our team has been getting better with each tournament we have played and we will definitely improve our game even further in the next one year," said the 25-year-old said in a statement.

Speaking about her participation at the Olympics, Rani said that the experience will help her make better decisions at the Tokyo Olympics.

"It was great to be a part of the Olympics in Rio. We made history by qualifying for the tournament after 36 years. It was a great feeling to be playing at the biggest of stages. Even though we didn't register the best of results, I have certainly learned a lot by playing the Olympic Games matches in 2016. I am sure all the players, who played in the 2016 Olympics, will make much better decisions on the pitch at the Tokyo Olympics, based on their experience in Rio," she said.

The Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, while the Paralympics will take place from August 24 to September 5, 2021.  

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News Network
May 18,2020

Karachi, May 18: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes it is at least five years too early to compare Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as the Indian skipper has proven himself in "every kind of situation" and the latter has not.

"Virat Kohli is far more experienced than Babar. He has at least five years more experience of top cricket and he is at the peak of his career," said Younis, Pakistan's leading run-getter in Tests.

"Kohli has far more exposure than Babar and he has been in every kind of situation and proven himself. No one gets 70 international centuries like that and this are proof of his class and abilities. He has scored runs in every situation and all opposition."

Younis said said Babar still has a long way to go.

"Babar has been in top cricket for just around five years. He has got a very impressive batting average across all three formats and he is getting better by the day.

"You see him batting and you can see he has got the same qualities that Kohli had at the start of his career."

Besides amassing 70 international hundreds, 31-year-old Kohli averages more than 50 in all three formats. The India skipper has scored more than 20,000 runs while 25-year-old Babar has 6680 runs across formats though the Pakistan limited overs skipper has played significantly lesser number of games.

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