Centurion, Dec 20 (IBNS) India suffered a humiliating innings and 25 runs defeat after South African fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn combined to take a match haul of 14 wickets on day five of the first Test at Centurion on Monday.
South Africa needed just six overs of the first session at SuperSport Park to seal a series-opening victory as Sachin Tendulkar was left stranded on 111, his record 50th Test ton, after India’s second innings folded in for 459 runs.
Morkel dismissed Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (3) and Steyn removed Jaidev Unadkat (1) to have India 25 runs short of South Africa’s first-innings 4-620 declared.
Sachin Tendulkar resisted with a sublime 111 not out from 241 balls in his record 50th Test century and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a rapid 90 on Sunday, but top-ranked India’s fate was virtually sealed when it was blasted out for 136 batting first – and South Africa responded with its huge total.
Three of South Africa’s five batsmen used made centuries, with Jacques Kallis recording a first career double century, to send the home team to a series lead in the first of three matches between Test cricket’s top two teams.
“I’m obviously very happy,” South Africa captain Graeme Smith said.
“It’s a big series which has had a massive build-up and it was nice to come out and perform and get a good victory.
“The batsmen were incredible, to take the game to India and play with such positivity was incredible.”
South Africa was dominant for much of a milestone-filled match, with second-innings partnerships of 137 between openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir and a 172-run stand between Tendulkar and Dhoni – and Tendulkar’s record century – India’s only highlights.
The Test also saw Morkel return a career-best 5-20 in India’s first innings and AB De Villiers hit the fastest Test century by a South African to power the Proteas to their highest test total against India.