 India crash to an embarrassing defeat at Motera
5th Apr 2008 20:00 IST
Agencies
The hosts recovered through a half-century stand between Ganguly and VVS Laxman (35), before the Hyderabadi stylist was caught with a lazy waft off Morkel.
Though that was the only wicket to fall in the second session, it was only a matter of time before South Africa made a breakthrough, which came when Ganguly was consumed by Steyn, till that time wicketless.
The visitors then packed off the remaining five wickets for 103 runs in the last session, which was extended by half an hour to finish the match.
Like in the first innings, Irfan Pathan was stranded on 43 as he ran out of partners while the rest of the batting left much to be desired.
In the final analysis, the massive 418-run lead taken by South Africa sealed India's fate with Man of the Match de Villiers’ unbeaten double century being the most significant contribution.
The Indians were rocked in the opening session itself by losing their top three batsmen after a start of 31 and were left struggling at 95/3 at lunch.
Sehwag, in his short stay of 32 minutes in which he faced 20 balls, played half-cock to a sharp incoming ball and was rapped on the pads by Ntini.
Dravid, who batted for five minutes under an hour and hit two fours, fended a short ball from the tall Morkel straight to de Villiers in the slip cordon.
Jaffer, looking ill at ease from the beginning and playing and missing often, was dismissed in similar fashion when he edged a loosely played drive off Kallis.
Laxman, who made a brief but attractive 35 in 45 balls with six fours, was out to a loose shot and gave Morkel his second wicket of the innings.
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