From 1877 until World War One
Between the World Wars
Post War to the WSC Revolution
The Professional Era to the New Millennium
The New Millennium and Beyond
Other Pages
Home Page
Article Archive
How the System Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Statistical Points of Interest
Current and Future Series Predictions
Links
Site Map
Contact Us
Get Free e-mail ratings updates
SA win 2 - 0 SA gains 12 points; IND loses 12 points
Draw 1 - 1 IND gains 3 points; SA loses 3 points
IND win 2 - 0 IND gains 18 points; SA loses 18 points
Kanpur
20 - 24 November 2004
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. After a confident start, South Africa lost Smith (37) and van Jaarsveld (2) to Kumble in the space of eight runs late in the session to be 2 for 69. By lunch, South Africa was 2 for 80. South Africa continued to bat slowly during the afternoon session until Kumble made a double-breakthrough for India just before tea. Kallis (37) and Rudolph (0) fell with the total on 154 runs then, two overs later, tea was taken with no further addition to the total. The run rate slowed even further during the evening session and by stumps, South Africa was 4 for 230, having scored at only 2.5 runs per over.
India dismissed Dippenaar (48) early on the second morning, but was then unable to take control of the game as South Africa fought back.� After Hall posted his maiden Test century in his eleventh Test, South Africa went to lunch at 5 for 302.� Hall and de Bruyn posted a record sixth wicket partnership against India during the afternoon session before Hall (163) fell at 6 for 385.� By tea, South Africa had continued slowly batting their way into an impregnable position at around 2.5 runs per over, with the score 6 for 398.� During the evening session, India was able to slow the scoring even further, but continued to struggle to take wickets. India finally managed to catch de Bruyn (83) late in the session before South Africa finished the day at 7 for 459.
Heavy fog prevented any play during the third morning. When play began after lunch, India trapped Tsolekile (9) in front in the second over and then when Peterson (34) was bowled, South Africa declared at 9 for 510. Kumble was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 131. Needing 311 runs to avoid following on, India then began their reply by batting at 3.6 runs per over through to tea, when the score was no wicket for 80. During the evening session, the problems India faced in trying to take wickets was rammed home to South Africa. India continued to pillage the bowling, taking the score to no wicket for 185 at 4.4 runs per over by stumps with both openers not out on 85 runs.
Gambhir (96) was caught behind an agonising four runs short of a maiden Test century on the fourth morning. However, that was South Africa's only success of the morning as Sehwag posted his eighth Test century and India cruised through to lunch to be 1 for 235. South Africa dismissed Sehwag (164) and an out of form Tendulkar (3) in the space of four runs to have India 3 for 298 within half an hour after lunch. South Africa was then unable to make further breakthroughs but did manage to slow the scoring rate through the rest of the session to see India 3 for 336 at tea. Having safely passed the follow on target, India had seemingly condemned the match toward the path of an inevitable draw. South Africa managed only to dismiss Ganguly (57) late in the evening session while India continued to erase South Africa's first innings advantage. At stumps, India was 4 for 401, only 109 runs in arrears.
South Africa tore through the remaining Indian batting on the final morning, dismissing Dravid (54), Karthik (1), Kumble (9), Laxman (9), Harbhajan Singh (17) and Kahn (30) in the space of 59 runs. India was all out for 466, conceding a first innings lead of 44 runs, while Ntini (3 for 135 off 39 overs) and Hall (3 for 93 off 25.4 overs) shared the bowling honours. South Africa then began their second innings and by lunch, the score was no wicket for 18. In a match fast running out of time, India dismissed Hall (26) at 1 for 67 and then van Jaarsveld (13), Smith (47) and Rudolph (2) were out in the space of five runs to see South Africa 4 for 115. However, South Africa then batted through to tea to be 4 for 121. India was unable to take any further wickets during the final session and when the match was declared a draw, South Africa was 4 for 169.
Second Test
Kolkata
28 November - 2 December 2004
South Africa again won the toss and elected to bat first. India had instant success after dismissing openers Smith (0) in the first over and Hall (7) in the sixth over at have the tourists 2 for 21. However, South Africa then fought back and batted through to be 2 for 60 at lunch. India continued to struggle through the afternoon session as South Africa clawed their way back toward an even position. India was only able to dismiss Rudolph (61) at 3 for 130 before South Africa went to tea at 3 for 152 with the match evenly poised. India struck twice after tea, dismissing Amla (24) and Dippenaar (1) in the space of six runs to have South Africa again on the back foot at 5 for 182. However, Kallis, who went on to post his 17th Test century, and de Bruyen then led a recovery effort to finish the day at 5 for 227, with India holding a slight advantage.
India took a big step toward controlling the Test on the second morning, dismissing de Bruyen (15), Kallis (121) and Pollock (18) to have South Africa 8 for 298 at lunch. South Africa added a further seven runs in ten overs after lunch before Tsolekile (15) and Ntini (0) fell in the space of three balls to see the tourists all out for 305 runs in 121 overs at only 2.5 runs per over. Pathan (3 for 72 off 31 overs) and Khan (3 for 64 off 27 overs) shared the bowling honours. India began their reply by losing Gambhir (7) in the seventh over to be 1 for 17. However, Sehwag and Dravid then batted through to tea when the score was 1 for 48 at 3.5 runs per over. South Africa failed to take any further wickets during the evening session and India finished the day in the better position at 1 for 129, 176 runs in arrears.
South Africa managed to restrict India's scoring on the third morning and dismissed Sehwag (88) early at 2 for 144 and then Tendulkar (20) just before India went to lunch at 3 for 198. South Africa again managed to take two wickets during the afternoon session, with Dravid (80) and Ganguly (40) falling. However, India managed to pick up the scoring tempo and added 95 runs to go to tea at 5 for 293, just 12 runs in arrears. During the evening session, India moved into the lead but immediately lost Laxman (38). South Africa was then unable to take the vital wickets they needed to stop India posting a valuable first innings lead. When bad light stopped play, India was 6 for 359, with a first innings lead of 54 runs, and the chance to turn that lead into a match winning advantage on the fourth day.
India added seven runs on the fourth morning before South Africa caught Pathan (24). South Africa went on to dismiss Kumble (8), Karthik (46) and Harbhajan Singh (14), but not before India had batted through the session to be all out for 411 runs at lunch with a crucial first innings lead of 106 runs. Ntini was the best of the South African bowlers with 4 for 112 off 44 overs. South Africa began the task of erasing the deficit after lunch and quickly took the total to 77 before Hall (21) and Rudolph (3) fell in the space of four runs. By tea, South Africa was 2 for 91, needing only 15 more runs to erase the deficit. After South Africa took the lead in the evening session, India struck back hard, dismissing Smith (71), Amla (2) and Dippenaar (2) in the space of 21 runs to see South Africa 5 for 147 and only 41 runs in the lead. South Africa then consolidated until bad light stopped play, when the tourists were 5 for 172 with a lead of 66 runs.
India struck a crucial blow in the fourth over when Kallis (55) was caught and bowled by Harbhajan Singh at 6 for 183. South Africa then added only ten more runs before Harbhajan struck twice in the same over to dismiss Pollock (6) and Ontong (0). The Kumble dismissed Tsolekile (1) and Ntini (12), and in doing so equalled Kepil Dev's wicket taking record of 434 Test wickets, to have South Africa all out for 222 runs. Harbhajan Singh finished with 7 for 87 off 30 overs. India then began their chase for 117 runs and victory by losing Sehwag (10) at 1 for 15. By lunch, India was 1 for 36. Despite dismissing Gambhir (26) at 2 for 60, South Africa was unable to increase the pressure or take further wickets as India cruised to an eight wicket win with Dravid (47*) and Tendulkar (32*) the not out batsmen.
