India lose match, not hope

After the astounding high, the inevitable low. Predictably, India caved in meekly, handing South Africa an early 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, the end coming earlier than one would have expected, rather hoped.

Less than half an hour into the final day, the Test at the SuperSport Park here was over.

Fittingly enough, the last rites were performed by the man who started it all on Day One of the Test. Dale Steyn had the last man Jaidev Unadkat caught in the sixth over of the day after his new ball partner Morne Morkel saw the back of S Sreesanth without difficulty.

The man of the moment Sachin Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 111.

India will now have an uphill task, not least because the Kingsmead — the venue of the second Test in Durban — is the bounciest of the wickets in South Africa.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team has a reputation of winning the big games. That reputation will be put to test from December 26. Their No 1 ranking will also come under scrutiny.

Also under scanner will be India’s ability to face up to the rising ball.

South Africa needed just 29 balls to complete the win on Monday morning. Between them, Steyn and Morkel, the architects of an innings and 25-run win, took six wickets in the second innings taking their tally to 14 in the Test.

At Centurion, they looked unstoppable. They could be more lethal in Durban, unless of course the Indians come out with a strategy to counter the chin music.

Graeme Smith, visibly elated, said they proved a point or two by winning the Test in about four days. “It was important that we won the first Test. It puts extra pressure on India to defend their ranking,” said the skipper, who reminded that some people in South Africa doubted his team’s abilities.

“Clive Rice has said we cannot take 20 Indian wickets. That is his opinion and we respect it. But we did it. We will try to win the series in Durban,” Smith remarked.

Man of the Match Jacques Kallis added, “There will be extra pressure on India because the wicket in Durban will not be easy for them.”

Going into Durban, India will have a lot of work to do. Facing the South African bowlers is not as much a concern as the inability to contain the South African batsmen. The home team scored at a ridiculous rate of nearly five runs an over.

In 130.1 overs, South Africa made 620. Even worse was India’s failure to take wickets. South Africa lost only four wickets, one of them was a gift from AB de Villers, who threw caution to the wind after reaching his century.

“That is a real concern. We will have to address that,” conceded Dhoni. India’s bowling will be strengthened by the return of Zaheer Khan. But by hoping he will bring about a turnaround would be putting too much load on his ageing shoulders.

The only high point from the Test was Tendulkar’s 50th Test century but Dhoni would like one to believe that there were a few more positives too from the lost game.

“The second innings batting,” reminded the India skipper. Is it? We will know in Durban.