SA crushed India by an innings and 90 runs in 2nd Test at Ahmedabad

India had to score 418 to avoid an innings defeat. South Africa declared immediately in the morning. India were thus left with the task of getting 418 runs to make the visitors bat again and avoid a humiliating innings defeat. Virender Sehwag started the day with a typically characteristic blast, pulling Dale Steyn for two sixes over fine leg in the first over itself. But SA got him soon enough as Ntini trapped him plumb in front in the eighth over. Sehwag’s second innings average dipped to 28.34 in the second innings, as compared to his first innings average of 67.69. Smith’s men netted Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer’s scalps as well before lunch. VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly added 55 for the fourth wicket, but just as we thought something special was in store, Laxman perished to a faint edge. India’s fight back entered its best phase as Dada joined forces with Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take the innings to tea without any further loss of wickets. Sourav Ganguly scored his sixth fifty against South Africa, while Dhoni got his first. Dhoni escaped a difficult chance at fine leg and a much easier stumping opportunity off Paul Harris. After both added 110 runs for the fifth wicket, Ganguly got caught behind off a full length delivery off Steyn. Dhoni got out to a bad stroke and Irfan Pathan (43 not out) was the only one standing amongst the ruins as the tail failed to take the match into the fourth day. India finished at 328, to lose by an innings and 90 runs inside three days. This is South Africas biggest win over India. AB de Villiers (217 not out) was declared Man of the Match. Steyn finished with eight wickets, while Makhaya Ntini netted six. South Africa go one-up in the three-Test series.

Brief Score
India
Batting
Ist Innings: 76/10, Pathan-21*, Dhoni-14
2nd Innings: 328/10, Ganguly-87, Dhoni-52, Pathan-43*
Bowling
Ist Innings: Harbhajan-4/135, Sreesanth-2/87, Kumble-1/78
2nd Innings: Did not bowl
South Africa
Batting
Ist Innings: 494/7 Declared, Kallis-132, AB De Villiers-217*
2nd Innings: Did not bat
Bowling
Ist Innings: Steyn-5/23, Ntini-3/18, Morkel-2/20
2nd Innings: Steyn-3/91, Ntini-3/44, Morkel-2/87, Kallis-1/26, Harris-1/68