Monday, April 14, 2008

India level series!!!!



India went on to level the series at Kanpur with an emphatic win over the proteas. Day 3 started with Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma at the crease. The proteas would have thought that they would clean up the tail in no time. But both the tail-enders had other ideas. They extended the lead to 60 runs. This was a handy lead on a crumbling pitch. The Indians made full use of the pitch.

When the proteas came into bat they weern't allowed to get away with easy runs. Both SreeSanth and Harbhajan bowled with accuracy. The successful opening pair didn't give it away either. They were battling it out in the middle. Both Smith and McKenzie were finding it very hard to combat the pitch and it seemed that a wicket was on the cards at any moment. Finally SreeSanth got the break through with the ball keeping low. McKenzie was out when the score was 26. Amla soon followed when Harbhajan got one to spin and bounce from the rough while Jaffer pulled of a good catch. South Africa were 27 for 2 at lunch. It was now the turn for South Africa's most experienced pair to lead the fight back. Both battled it out well in the middle. They went past the lead. Dhoni's bowling changes were working well. He brought on Sehwag and he did the trick for India. He first got Kallis and then Smith by bowling him round the legs. South Africa were 88 for 4 at tea. After tea none of the South African batsmen could apply themselves in the crease. Eventually they were bowled out for 121. This gave a meagre target of 64 for India to achieve.

Sehwag went about in his style hitting 2 sixes of Harris. He was out attempting a similar shot of Harris. Jaffer soon followed lbw to Morkel. Indians were 32 for 2. Then the pair of Dravid and Ganguly led India to an 8 wicket victory to level the series. India held their no 2 spot in tests. Sourav Ganguly was named man of the match while Harbhajan bagged the man of the series.

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