5 Classic encounters between India and South Africa

5. 1st Test at Mumbai, Feb 24-26, 2000

Wind back the memories to 2000 and this time it was South Africa visiting India for a couple of Test matches. The first game was at the historic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as the home side India won the toss and chose to bat first. But the team playing under the captaincy of Sachin Tendulkar crumbled to 225 in the first day itself. In reply, the visitors too failed to capitalise after a good start and collapsed from being 90/0 to 176/10 in front of the spin troika of Anil Kumble, Sachin and Murali Karthik.

The second innings though was more dramatic as India failed to come to terms with the South African pace attack of Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald and were skittled out for just 113 setting the target of just 163 runs. Kumble raised the hopes for India by picking four wickets but the Proteas somehow managed crawl past the Indian total with just four wickets in hand. The turnaround was commendable for the visiting team though and despite conceding the lead in the first innings they successfully passed the trial by spin to finish the game inside three days.

All the aforementioned matches are absolutely classic and the upcoming Test series is also expected to be keenly contested as the Indian team looks prepared for the stern test.