South Africans found it hard to adjust to the low and slow Indian pitches over the years but a few stood ...
Saturday, March 22, 2008
India v South Africa in Tests: Greatest partnerships
Several vital partnerships have constructed a serious impact over the outcome of India-South Africa Tests over the years. With the 2008 Test series in India rapidly approaching, let us recap some of the greatest double acts.
 © Getty Images Sachin played a captain's knock in Cape Town and fashioned one of his greatest centuries overseas |
2nd Test: South Africa v India at Cape Town, Jan 2-6, 1997
A stand of 222 between Tendulkar and Azharuddin not only forestalled another condensed Test but illuminated the game with its absolute brilliance and aggression in the face of difficulty. It engaged just 40 overs. Azharuddin, scoring 115 in 110 balls, with 19 fours and a six, provided the chief share. But Tendulkar kept going to save India from following on and was last out, after nearly six hours, to an exceptional catch by Bacher at deep mid wicket.
India were 58 for five when Tendulkar and Azharuddin came together, replying to South Africa's highest total since isolation. The start of the Tendulkar-Azharuddin stand belied India's desperate plight. Azharuddin, free of the tasks of the captaincy, played the more striking - and often unconventional - shots; Tendulkar was more orderly, but attacked in a luxurious manner. This partnership was the only consolation for the visitors in the entire match as India lost the match by 282 runs.
Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher – 121 runs (8th wicket)
1st Test: South Africa v India at Bloemfontein, Nov 3-6, 2001
India had managed a competitive 379 after being put in to bat by Shaun Pollock. South Africa made a good start and the scores of the top four batsmen included a century and 3 half-centuries. They were 377/6 when Mark Boucher joined Lance Klusener at the crease. From that point the duo took decisive control and put on 121. Klusener's bat was more edge than middle to start with but, once his eye was in, it became a lethal hammer. He made 108 off 124 balls with 18 fours and a six and, combined with Boucher’s 47, set up a formidable lead of 184. The Proteas went on to win the match by nine wickets.
 © Getty Images Kumble's valiant effort could not avoid defeat but helped India avoid the follow on |
2nd Test: India v South Africa at Kolkata, Nov 27-Dec 1, 1996
The first innings saw the visitors post a total of 428 before their team subsided to the Indian attack. The home team never looked set for a good chase and was in a dismal position when the Azharuddin-Kumble duo took the reigns in their hands. Azharuddin had earlier retired hurt but was required back on his feet owing to the situation.
Kumble showed up his team-mates by playing straight for his best Test score at that time, and Azharuddin simply hammered the bowling. He scored his fifty off 35 balls, his century off 74, and pulled Adams for a six to go with his 18 fours before hitting him a return catch. The two of them took India to 322/8 before Azhar fell. In the second innings, the Indian batsmen disappointed even further as the whole team slumped for 137 handing over victory to the Proteas by a margin of 329 runs.
Lance Klusener and Jacques Kallis – 164 (5th wicket)
2nd Test: India v South Africa at Bangalore, Mar 2-6, 2000
Losing the toss did not make an iota of difference to the South African bowlers as they turned in another superlative effort to dismiss India on the first day, when the pitch was at its best for batting. The Proteas were in the lead even before thy lost their second wicket, that of Nicky Boje. Klusener joined Kallis at the crease when the score was 271/4 and together they manoeuvred the South African ship to a more than competitive score of 435 runs. Kallis stayed for more than seven hours and faced 359 balls for his 95 and with an uncharacteristically workmanlike Klusener, who was moved up the order because India's bowlers were less happy against left-handers. Klusener had faced 169 balls when, with a century in his grasp, he lost patience. The partnership laid the foundation for the win in the match which consequently set the tone for the series win.
- Priya Ganoo
