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Untitled Document
 South Africa in command at Motera
3rd Apr 2008 20:02 IST
Agencies
India's much-vaunted batting line-up was blown away for an embarrassing 76 well inside the first session and their spineless capitulation allowed South Africa take the driver's seat in the second Test at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium at Motera today.
After Indian captain Anil Kumble won the toss and decided to bat first, the Motera witnessed an abject batting surrender as the hosts were shot out for a dismal 76 runs in just 20 overs well inside lunch with only Irfan Pathan (21 not out) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (14) managing double-digit scores on day one of the Test.
Dale Steyn (5/23) and Makhaya Ntini (3/18) breathed fire on a wicket that had a tinge of green on it but certainly no demons to justify the stunning batting collapse.
In their reply, South Africa overcame Harbhajan Singh's three-wicket burst to finish the day at a comfortable 223/4 to take a 147-run first innings lead.
Jacques Kallis (60) and AB de Villiers (59) were in the middle when stumps were drawn.
Kumble's side suffered the ignominy of being the first Indian team to be shot out before lunch on the first day of a Test.
The star-studded batting line-up lasted just 109 minutes, second-shortest in terms of overs after India's infamous 'Summer of 42' collapse against England at Lord's in 1974 in bowler-friendly conditions. On that occasion, India's second innings lasted 17 overs, three less than today's.
The paltry total was India's lowest at home against the visitors and their second-worst ever after the 75 made against the West Indies at Delhi in 1983.
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