South Africa v India
At Bloemfontein, November 3, 4, 5, 6
15-Apr-2003
At Bloemfontein, November 3, 4, 5, 6. South Africa won by nine wickets. Toss: South Africa.
Test debuts: D. Dasgupta, V. Sehwag.
Though the margin of victory did not flatter South Africa, it did understate the strength of
India's opposition. For the first three days of this Test, the cricket was combative and, for the most
part, spectacular.
The pitch, relaid not many months earlier, was liberally grassed. It was not fast but initially
provided bounce and lateral movement. By the fourth day, it became awkward, developing a mosaic
of wide cracks at one end. Pollock's decision to bowl earned good returns in the short term -
four wickets in 90 minutes - although his own hostility with the new ball brought him less reward
than he deserved. However, South Africa's advance was halted by the awesome mastery with which
Tendulkar scored his 26th Test hundred, and his partnership of 220 with Virender Sehwag, who
made a flawless century in his maiden Test innings. Sehwag might not have played had Harbhajan
Singh not been taken ill on the eve of the match.
Tendulkar became comfortably the youngest player to score 7,000 Test runs, at 28 years 193
days in his 85th Test, beating David Gower (who was 31). The range and power of his shots took
him to his hundred in only 114 balls; when, to his immense annoyance, he got himself caught
off a short delivery, he had hit 23 fours and a six. Watching ball after ball hit the middle of
Tendulkar's bat can only have been reassuring for Sehwag, but his composure and the manner in
which he shaped his own innings, 105 in 173 balls, including 19 fours, testified to a sound
temperament. The adorning feature was his delightful cover driving. He was finally bowled by a
true beauty, the first of three victims Pollock claimed with the second new ball.
South Africa's reply began early on the second day and ended six overs after tea on the third.
Their eventual 563 beat their previous best against India: 529 for seven at Cape Town in 1996-
97. It was founded on a third consecutive century opening stand between Gibbs, who was allowed
the freedom to hit 16 fours and two sixes in 107 off 145 balls, and Kirsten. They departed in
successive overs but Kallis and McKenzie, both watchful, kept the innings on an even keel.
India fought back and had the better of the third morning: Kumble and Zaheer Khan restrained
Kallis and Dippenaar for 50 minutes before three wickets in six overs with the new ball suggested
Ganguly should have taken it before the 95th over. When Kallis was caught at second slip, it was
his first dismissal in 1,241 minutes of batting (spread over three matches) - then a Test record.
Srinath accounted for the next two with consecutive balls to reach 200 wickets in his 54th Test.
With four wickets left, South Africa were still two runs behind. From that point, however, they
took decisive control, thanks to Klusener and Boucher, who put on 121. Klusener's bat was more
edge than middle to start with but, once his eye was in, it became a lethal bludgeon. He made
108 off 124 balls, with 18 fours and a six, to set up a formidable lead of 184.
India cleared 96 for just one wicket by the end of the third day. But on the fourth there came
a sudden and sharp decline, as Pollock's accuracy and incisiveness conspired with the deteriorating
pitch and a fair number of batting errors. Nine wickets went down for 129 runs and Pollock earned
a Test haul of ten for the first time. Chasing 54, South Africa settled the argument by tea.
Man of the Match: S. M. Pollock.
Attendance: 13,896.
Attendance: 13,896.
Close of play: First day, India 372-7 (Dasgupta 29); Second day, South Africa 327-3 (Kallis
49); Third day, India 96-1 (Das 54, Laxman 25).