India beat South Africa by an inning and 57 runs to retain Number one Tag

What a dramatic turnaround by the Indians, it was all down to the last two overs and many fans sitting at Eden Garden have chew their nails in such tense last half-an hour of play on day five. India needed one wicket to won the match, level the series by 1-1 and retain their number one test ranking in the last two overs of play, on the other hand South Africans required to play out the 12 deliveries to draw the match and grab the number one test ranking.

However the man “Harbhajan Singh” who seems to be in love with Eden Garden wicket did it for India by removing M.Morkel who is in the line of India victory standing tall since last 75 minutes of play. It was a dramatic win for India in the dying minutes of the second test match at Eden Garden, Kolkata.

After M.Morkel dismissal all fans sitting in the ground started to roar heavily behind the team and why not they were able to win the match and remain as number one test team in the world.

This game will be remembered not only for some fine cricket but also for an outstanding inning played by South African Hashim Amla who have batted more than 8 hours and 15 minutes and scored unbeaten 123 runs of 394 deliveries but could not save his team from heavy defeats by the hands of team India.

He was rock solid in such tremendous pressure situation and added valuable partnership for the eights and last wicket which not only raises the hopes of South Africans to save this test match but also showed how gutsy and determined cricketer he is.

South Africa started the day well with not allowing India to get a wicket in the first hour of play. However Harbhajan Singh removed A.Prince (23 runs) with the loopy delivery and then A.Mishra removed AB Devilliers (3 runs) in the first session to raise the chances of India to wrap this match.

In the post session after Lunch, Harbhajan provided two more quick breakthrough for the Indians by removing out of form JP Duminy (6 runs) and D.Styen (1 runs) to put India on a verge of famous win.

At 180/7, South Africa looks like will bowl out before tea but determined effort from W.Parnell (22 runs) and Hashim Amla denied the victory in the session before tea. Both put on 70 runs for the eighth wicket before Ishant Sharma broken the dangerous looking partnership by removing W.Parnell and nine overs later Ishant again bowled beauty to get rid-off Paul Harris to get his team close to victory.

But Hashim Amla and M.Morkel frustrated the Indians for 20 overs before the big moment arrived and crowd erupt in joy at historical Eden Garden, Kolkata.

Hashim Amla was declared Player of the Match for his superb unbeaten marathon knock of 123 runs and he also adjudge Man of the Series for his super batting display in the two match series. He has scored 490 runs with an average of 490.00.

Match Summary (India won by an inning and 57 runs)

South Africa 1^st 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 1^st 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 2^nd 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

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