5 most interesting Test matches between India and South Africa

5 most interesting Test matches between India and South Africa: The Proteas are having an upper hand in the ongoing Gandhi-Mandela Series. They have won both the T20I and ODI series’.

The two teams now lock horn in the longer format of the game. The first of the four-Test series commences on 5^th November, 2015, at PCA Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Between the period 1992-93 and 2013-14, the two teams faced each other in 29 Test matches, out of which India won 7, South Africa won 13 and the balance 9 were drawn.

The series in 1991-92 was the longest with four-Test matches with SA winning 1-0.

Let us take a look at 5 most interesting Test matches between India and South Africa:

1. First Test in 1996 series at Ahmedabad:

The first-Test of the three-Test 1996-97 series was played at Gujarat Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, between 20^th and 23^rd November, 1996.

VVS Laxman made his Test debut in this match.

India, led by Sachin Tendulkar, won the toss and elected to bat.

The Indian batsmen had to face the fury of the South African bowlers like Allan Donald, Fanie de Villiers, Paul Adams and Pat Symcox.

The SA bowlers literally ripped through the Indian batting line up. With just two useful partnerships – 41 runs for the second wicket between Sanjay Manjrekar (34, 114m, 94b, 4*4) and Rahul Dravid (24, 124m, 98b, 3*4) and 35 runs for the third wicket between Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar (42, 80m, 64b, 7*4) – a contribution of 35 runs (91m, 79b, 5*4) from the blade of Mohd Azharuddin, India notched up 223 runs in their first innings.

Allan Donald was the most successful bowler taking 4 wickets, giving away 37 runs in his spell of 27 overs. Fanie de Villiers and Pat Symcox joined the party by claiming 2 wickets each.

South Africa also did not have a good start. Anil Kumble (32-6-76-2) provided the necessary breakthrough at the top, claiming the wickets of both the openers, Gary Kirsten (17, 62m, 47b, 2*4) and Andrew Hudson (23, 93m, 80b, 3*4) early on in the innings. Narendra Hirwani (15-3-38-2) and Sunil Joshi (24-4-43-4) inflicted further damage, reducing SA to 182 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. Javagal Srinath wiped out the remaining two batsmen for the addition of another 62 runs.

Only Daryll Cullinan (43, 97m, 75b, 4*4, 1*6) and Fanie de Villiers (67*, 189m, 136b, 5*4, 1*6), in the lower order provided some sort of a resistance. SA had taken a slender lead of 21 runs over India.

Wiping out of the deficit, India, backed by a wonderful maiden half-century (51, 170m, 125b, 6*4) by the debutant, VVS Laxman, went on to score 190 runs in the second innings. Other meaningful contributions came from Rahul Dravid (34, 139m, 110b, 5*4) and Anil Kumble (30*, 82m, 61b, 4*4).

SA had a target of 170 runs to chase and win the match. However, Indian bowlers, led by Javagal Srinath had other ideas.

Srinath removed Hudson for a ‘duck’ in the third ball of the innings and then went on to pick up five more wickets. He ended the innings with an impressive figure of 11.5-4-21-6. He was ably assisted by the spinners, Anil Kumble (12-2-34-3) and Sunil Joshi (8-1-28-1) and they did not allow any batsman to settle down.

Except a patiently made unbeaten 48 runs (172m, 122b, 6*4) by the skipper Hansie Cronje, no other batsman could make significant contribution and the innings folded up at a paltry 105 runs, giving India a victory by 64 runs, going 1-0 up in the series.

Javagal Srinath had a match figure of 31-11-68-8 and was adjudged the Player of the Match.