South Africa win test series against india by 1-0

South Africa beat India by 10 wickets in win series 1-0

 NEW DELHI: Chasing a meager 58, South Africa were 19/0 in their second innings before slipping into tea break on the final day of the second Test in Durban.

Jacques Kallis Retirment from Test Cicket

Jacques Kallis bids adieu to Test cricket

DURBAN: Jacques Kallis, one of the greatest all-rounders of the game, today bid adieu to Test cricket after an illustrious 18-year career in a fairytale script as he hit a century in his swansong match in South Africa's 10-wicket thrashing of India on Monday.

Jacques Kallis on last Test hundred

 

Jacques Kallis says Special feeling to get hundred in last Test

DURBAN: South Africa's Jacques Kallis got a fairytale hundred against India in his farewell Test and the retiring all-rounder said it was a "special feeling" to reach the three-figure mark in his final appearance in the five-day game for the Proteas.

India all out in 2nd inning South Africa need 58 to win

Rahane misses ton, South Africa need 58 to win 

 Ajinkya Rahane was bowled out by Vernon Philander for 96 as India were bundled out for 223 in their second innings, giving South Africa a target of 58 runs, in the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Monday.

Jacques Kallis gets guard of honour from Indian Players

Jacques Kallis gets guard of honour from Indian Players

Retiring all-rounder and one of the greats of the game, Jacques Kallis, was given a guard of honour by the Indian team in his 166th and final Test match at Kingsmead, Durban on Saturday. Kallis walked out to bat with South Africa on 113 for two (live updates) and the Indian team arranged themselves in two lines with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the helm.

Ind vs SA Day 1 India score 181/1 before bad light stop

Ind vs SA Day 1 India score 181/1 before bad light stop

DURBAN: Opener Murali Vijay marked his return to form with a fluent unbeaten 91 as India gained early control of the series-deciding second Test against South Africa with a solid batting display on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Vijay, who had not managed to get a big score for some time now, was just nine runs short of what could be his fourth Test century as the visitors reached a comfortable 181/1 before bad light stopped play at the Kingsmead.

India 76/1 at lunch on Day 1 India vs South Africa 2nd test

India 76/1 at lunch on Day 1 India vs South Africa 2nd test 

    

NEW DELHI: Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara took the Indian first innings score to 76/1 on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

Morne Morkel gave South Africa their first breakthrough when he dismissed Shikhar Dhawan.

After electing to bat first, India got off to decent start courtesy Dhawan and Murali Vijay who looked determined to face the South Africa pacers by putting up a bright 41-run stand for the opening wicket.

India elect to bat - India vs South Africa in 2nd Test

 India elect to bat - India vs South Africa in 2nd Test

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat against South Africa in the series-deciding second and final Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
India make one change for this match as they bring in Ravindra Jadeja in place of R Ashwin. On the other hand, South Africa bring in Robin Peterson for Imran Tahir

Jacques Kallis to quit Tests after India series

Jacques Kallis to quit Tests after India series

South Africa's workhorse and one of the best all-rounders to have graced the game, has decided to call it quits from Tests after the ongoing series against India. The Boxing Day Test at Durban will be his last for South Africa.
The broad shouldered, mentally strong Kallis has been one of the most crucial figures in South Africa's rise in Test cricket over the last few years. He has played alongside some of the former greats like Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten and S2haun Pollock to name a few.

With runs in excess of 13,000 and close to 300 wickets, Kallis has been one of the most influential characters in the longest format of the game, with credentials solid enough to find him a place in any world-class side.

According to the Cricket South Africa press release, Kallis spoke about his decision and said, "It's been an honour and a privilege to have been part of the South African Test team since making my debut 18 years ago. I have enjoyed every moment out in the middle but I just feel that the time is right to hang up my Test whites.

"It wasn't an easy decision to come to, especially with Australia around the corner and the success this team is enjoying, but I feel that I have made my contribution in this format."

Kallis, who made his international debut at the age of 20 in 1995, will finish with 166 Tests to his name. Talking about South Africa's ascent in the last couple of years, Kallis said, "The last two years specifically have been a memorable journey with an exceptional group of cricketers. I am fortunate enough to have ended my Test career amongst a group of talented cricketers but more importantly, friends whom I will cherish for years to come."

Fans all over the world will be deeply saddened by the news but Kallis assured that this wasn't the end of his playing days.

"I don't see it as goodbye because I still have a lot of hunger to push South Africa to that World Cup in 2015 if I am fit and performing."

One can also not rule out the high level of hunger for success that has often been associated with the veteran as he said, "Winning an IPL title with the Kolkata Knight Riders was a special achievement, and I am still determined to taste that success with South Africa at an ICC event."

South African coach Russell Domingo shared his view on Kallis' big decision and said that the team will miss the big South African's impact and said that it will be tough to find another player of his stature.

"The impact Jacques has made on South African cricket has been immense, not just as a player but as a human being. I am not sure we will ever see another player of that stature very soon. "


Talking about Kallis' traits that will be badly missed in the dressing room, Domingo said," Jacques calmness, maturity and presence in the change room will sorely be missed and hopefully he will still be able to play a role in this team's success in the near future.

Domingo was also optimistic of seeing Kallis in prime form in coloured kit for the World Cup 2015.

"He has ambitions of playing in the 2015 World Cup and it will be important for us to manage him accordingly so that he is in prime form leading into the tournament," he said.

Kallis is currently placed fourth in the list of cricketers with most runs in Test cricket, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid. The Durban Test will give him an opportunity to usurp the last two of the three names and go second behind Tendulkar. He needs 115 runs to go past Dravid and 205 to go past Ponting. Kallis also has 292 wickets and 199 catches to his name.

 

 

Sunil Gavaskar says, on india vs south africa test series

Sunil Gavaskar says, on india vs south africa test series 

Former India skipper and  cricket expert Sunil Gavaskar says that India have the upper hand ahead of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Durban.

"India will be more confident than South Africa ahead of the Durban Test. India have done well at Durban, so South Africa will be a little nervous," said Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar also felt that there was no need for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to tinker around with his team composition."India must go in with six batsmen and one wicketkeeper. There is no need to make any changes in the bowling," he said.

Talking about Jacques Kallis' decision to retire after the India series, Gavaskar said he was very much surprised by Kallis' call.

"To be very honest, his decision to retire has surprised me," he said.

When a veteran like Kallis decides to quit, comparisons with legends of different eras are bound to crop up. Gavaskar, however, has said that he would not do that, while reacting to the parallels being drawn between the South African veteran and West Indian legend Sir Garfield Sobers.

"I would not compare Jacques Kallis with Sir Garfield Sobers or any other players from different eras," Gavaskar said.

Virat Kohli achieves career best Test ranking of 11

Virat Kohli achieves career best Test ranking of 11

Dubai:  Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli jumped nine places to achieve his career-best 11th spot in the latest Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen issued on Monday.

Kohli, who stroked 119 and 96 in the two innings in the first Test against South Africa, was the second highest-ranked Indian after Cheteshwar Pujara, another centurion in the same match in Johannesburg, who remained on seventh spot after earning 37 rating points. (Also read: Kohli shocked South Africa did not go for win vs India)

South African A B de Villiers, one of the two South African centurions to help draw the Johannesburg Test, leads the rankings. He leads compatriot and second-ranked Hashim Amla by 25 ratings points.

Rank	Name	Country	Rating as on Dec. 23
1	AB de Villiers	South Africa	906
2	Hashim Amla	South Africa	881
3	Shivnarine Chanderpaul	West Indies	876
4	Ross Taylor	New Zealand	871
5	Michael Clarke	Australia	868
6	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	866
7	Cheteshwar Pujara	India	838
8	Misbah-ul-Haq	Pakistan	783
9	Gareme Smith	South Africa	775
10	Younus Khan	Pakistan	769
11	Virat Kohli	India	748

Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander has achieved the coveted number-one ranking on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers after a stellar performance against India in the drawn Johannesburg Test.

Philander has dislodged team-mate Dale Steyn, who had been at the top of table since July 2009 when he went past Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan. Overall, Steyn spent 186 matches at the number-one position, the second-most ever after Muralitharan. (Also read: Dale Steyn records worst figures in Test career)

Philander had entered the Test trailing Steyn by four ratings points. While Philander recorded figures of four for 61 and three for 68, Steyn managed just one wicket. The contrasting performances resulted in Philander gaining 13 ratings points and Steyn conceding 13 ratings points.

This swing means Philander now leads Steyn by 22 ratings points and the 28-year-old from Bellville will now start the Durban Test as the number-one ranked bowler in the world for the first time in his career.

Philander is now the seventh South Africa bowler to claim the number-one rank after Aubrey Faulkner (1914-1921), Hugh Tayfield (1955-1958), Peter Pollock (1969), Allan Donald (1998-1999), Shaun Pollock (1999-2003) and Steyn (2008-2013).

Overall Philander is the 74th bowler to head the Test bowling ranking.

Philander has also become the third South Africa bowler after Pollock and Steyn to break the barrier of 900 ratings points, considered a landmark for top bowlers.

Philander's total of 912 ratings points is the joint-sixth best ever, with England's Tony Lock and West Indies paceman Curtly Ambrose, and the best-ever by a South Africa bowler.

In the team rankings, New Zealand's eight-wicket win over West Indies in the Hamilton Test has helped it register a 2-0 series win and, thereby, gain seven ratings points to retain seventh position with 82 ratings points.

West Indies, on the other hand, has dropped behind Sri Lanka in seventh position in the table headed by South Africa (131 rating points). India are at second place with 119 rating points.

England off-spinner Graeme Swann, who retired from international cricket on Sunday, ended his Test career in 15th spot.

Swann's highest ranking with the ball was when he achieved the number-two position in March 2010. He reached a peak of 858 points later that year. (Suggested read: Swann takes parting shot at teammates)

Swann also spent 41 matches and 111 days in 2011 as the top ranked ODI bowler, first reaching top spot on 3 July 2011. He has ended his ODI career in 24th rank on the bowling table. He also spent 35 matches and 338 days as the top ranked T20I bowler, first reaching top spot on 30 December 2010. Swann has ended his T20 International career in 17th position.

South Africa fail in record run chase

South Africa fail in record run chase

 

South Africa fell eight runs short of a world-record run chase but secured a draw in the first Test against India in Johannesburg by finishing on 450-7.

The hosts began the final day on 138-2 in pursuit of 458 to win the first match of a two-Test series.

A 205-run fifth-wicket partnership between Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers gave them hope of victory.
But De Villiers was bowled by Ishant Sharma for 103, before Du Plessis was run out for 134 with 19 balls left.
In between those dismissals, JP Duminy was out for five after he chopped on to his stumps from Mohammed Shami.
That left Dale Steyn to bat out the final three overs with Vernon Philander, with the world number one Test team still retaining hopes of a remarkable win against the side ranked second.
A maiden over each from Zaheer Khan and Shami effectively ended those hopes, although Steyn left the hosts wondering what might have been by smashing a six off the final ball of the match.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith defended the decision of his batsmen to play for the draw.

Highest successful Test match fourth-innings run chases

• 418: West Indies v Australia, 4th Test, St John's, 9 May 2003
• 414: South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Perth, 17 Dec 2008
• 406: India v West Indies, 3rd Test, Port of Spain, 7 Apr 1976
• 404: Australia v England, 4th Test, Headingley, 22 Jul 1948
• 387: India v England, 1st Test, Chennai, 11 Dec 2008
• 369: Australia v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Hobart, 18 Nov 1999

He said: "The knocks that AB and Faf played, everybody would have been saying what an incredible effort.

"We mustn't lose sight of that in the emotion. You understand the emotional side. I think the context was that it was an unbelievable Test match. I don't think too many people gave us a chance [of drawing].''
India batsman Virat Kohli was surprised to see South Africa limit their ambitions to a draw.
He said: "Everyone was pretty shocked, honestly. We didn't think they'd stop going for that score."
The highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test history remains the 418 scored by West Indies to beat Australia in 2003.
South Africa's total was the third-highest ever scored in a Test match fourth innings. New Zealand scored 451 at Christchurch in 2002 in losing to England, who hit 654-5 in a draw with South Africa at Durban in 1939.

 

South Africa draw the first Test against India in Johannesburg

South Africa draw the first Test against India in Johannesburg

 South Africa fell eight runs short of a world-record run chase but secured a draw in the first Test against India in Johannesburg by finishing on 450-7.

 

India's Virat Kohli

The hosts began the final day on 138-2 in pursuit of 458 to win the first match of a two-Test series.

A 205-run fifth-wicket partnership between Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers gave them hope of victory.
But De Villiers was bowled by Ishant Sharma for 103, before Du Plessis was run out for 134 with 19 balls left.
In between those dismissals, JP Duminy was out for five after he chopped on to his stumps from Mohammed Shami.
That left Dale Steyn to bat out the final three overs with Vernon Philander, with the world number one Test team still retaining hopes of a remarkable win against the side ranked second.
A maiden over each from Zaheer Khan and Shami effectively ended those hopes, although Steyn left the hosts wondering what might have been by smashing a six off the final ball of the match.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith defended the decision of his batsmen to play for the draw.

He said: "The knocks that AB and Faf played, everybody would have been saying what an incredible effort.

"We mustn't lose sight of that in the emotion. You understand the emotional side. I think the context was that it was an unbelievable Test match. I don't think too many people gave us a chance [of drawing].''
India batsman Virat Kohli was surprised to see South Africa limit their ambitions to a draw.
He said: "Everyone was pretty shocked, honestly. We didn't think they'd stop going for that score."
The highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test history remains the 418 scored by West Indies to beat Australia in 2003.
South Africa's total was the third-highest ever scored in a Test match fourth innings. New Zealand scored 451 at Christchurch in 2002 in losing to England, who hit 654-5 in a draw with South Africa at Durban in 1939.

Zaheer Khan achieve the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket

Zaheer Khan achieve the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket

NEW DELHI: Zaheer Khan became the fourth Indian to achieve the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket when he dismissed Jacques Kallis on the fifth day of the first Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

But Zaheer was lucky to get the wicket of Kallis as the batsman was ruled out leg before wicket even through there was an inside edge on to his pads.

Zaheer joins Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in the elite list.

A fit again Zaheer came up with a superb bowling effort to grab 4/88 in the first innings.

Zaheer has gone through a lot of late. Injuries, lack of form and fitness issues had seen him out of the Indian team for quite a while. It was a difficult road back for him to come back.

Zaheer, when he started off in the Champions Trophy in Kenya in 1999, used to work up a pace of 140 plus. Over the years his pace came down but he added some more skill in his repertoire like the knuckle ball and the art of reverse swinging the old ball.

Zaheer, alongwith Yuvraj Singh, trained hard for 42 days at a stretch at Metasport Athletic Performance Centre in France where they learned new things in terms of exercise, food and diet.

Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, Zaheer is regarded as the best fast bowler emerged from India after Kapil Dev and considered among the best left-hand fast bowlers in the world along with Wasim Akram and Chaminda Vaas.

Zaheer was the highest wicket-taker for India in the 2011 World Cup, reinventing himself from several injuries to become the backbone of Indian pace attack.

Zaheer had rocked international cricket when he clean bowled Steve Waugh in the Champions Trophy in 2000 and it was largely due to Zaheer's exploits with the ball that India won a Test series in England under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid in 2007.

Zaheer, who turned 35 on October 7, 2013, worked with a world-renowned trainer for six weeks in France to get back in shape and then went to South Africa to work with a specialist on his fielding and bowling.

It's remarkable to note what Zaheer Khan has achieved despite having a career that has been hit by several injuries.

South Africa 138/2 against India at stumps on Day 4

 JOHANNESBURG: The first Test between India and South Africa seemed headed for an exciting finish with the hosts needing to score 320 runs with eight wickets remaining on a tricky last day to pull off a record-breaking victory.

Set a stiff target of 458 for victory after India scored 421 in their second innings, the hosts put up a better batting display to reach 138 for two at close on the penultimate day on Saturday on a Wanderers track which seemed to have eased out quite a bit.

Alviro Petersen (76 batting) and Faf du Plessis (10 batting) were at the crease at stumps on another absorbing day's play which has set the stage for a thrilling finish with all three results a possibility.

A South African victory looks remote at this stage as no team has ever successfully chased down a target of 458 in Test history so far. The highest successful run chase in Test cricket has been achieved by West Indies who scored 418 for seven to beat Australia in St Johns in 2003.

With the pitch showing no signs of any rapid deterioration, the Indians may find the going tough to push for a 1-0 series lead on the final day's play on Sunday, considering that the Proteas have a strong batting line-up.

The Proteas, on the other hand, will look to bat out the entire day to avoid the embarrassment of a defeat at home.

Resuming at the overnight score of 284 for two, the Indians rode on the marathon 222-run partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara (153) and Virat Kohli (96) for the third wicket to take a substantial lead.

The 222-run partnership was the highest stand for third wicket in a Test match second innings overseas. They bettered the long-standing record of 211 runs for the third wicket between Vinoo Mankad and Vijay Hazare at the Lord's in 1952.

Kohli was unlucky to miss out on a twin century as he was out for 96 in the opening session after hitting 119 in India's first innings.

South Africa's paceman Morne Morkel had twisted his ankle on Day three and it's doubtful if he will bat on Sunday, if at all required.

Earlier, after India were all out for 421 in the post-lunch session, captain Graeme Smith (44) and Peterson carefully negotiated the opening salvo from visiting bowlers for an hour to take the home side to 38 for no loss at tea.

Smith was nearly out in the third over of the innings, playing Zaheer off his pads towards leg gully where Virat Kohli nearly held on to a tough chance, getting his fingers to the ball. The South African captain was on one at that time.

Smith and Petersen batted in the same resolute manner after tea also, watching the incoming balls carefully and scoring runs whenever the bowlers strayed onto their pads.

To the Indian bowlers' credit, they bowled a lot better line than their counterparts managed all day. The trio of Zaheer Khan (9-0-29-0), Ishant Sharma (9-0-28-0) and Mohammed Shami (8-1-30-1) went past their bats on numerous occasions, unlucky to get a breakthrough in the first hour of play in the final session.

The two South African openers added 54 runs, with Petersen completing his half century in the 18th over. He contributed the majority of runs in the first-wicket partnership as Smith slowly built his innings. He was definitely more edgy of the two batsmen, with R Ashwin (16-3-40-0) nearly bowling him in the 23rd over and then Zaheer almost getting an edge in the 26th.

Notably, Ashwin bowled 16 out of the 45 overs sent down in the final session, pointing to the fact that the pitch may have something on the final day on Sunday.

In the 30th over, they reached the 100-run mark with worrisome faces on the Indian team. But Ajinkya Rahane eased their tensions when he ran out Smith with a direct hit in the next over. Smith hit six boundaries in his 73-ball innings.

Ten runs later, their number three batsman, Hashim Amla (4) was out just like in the first innings, out-bowled leaving a delivery from Shami, when he should have been playing at it.

Du Plessis was sent ahead of Jacques Kallis, owing to his lack of runs. It became cloudy thereafter and the Indians tried every trick to keep the opposition batting, with Murali Vijay (1-0-3-0) and skipper Dhoni (2-0-4-0) coming on to bowl, as Virat Kohli kept wickets. Dhoni even kept wickets without his protective pads to hurry the overs in.

Earlier in the opening session, Pujara slammed 153 while Kohli missed out on an opportunity to score centuries in both innings by four runs.

The two batsmen put on 222 runs for the third wicket to set the hosts a daunting fourth innings' target of 458 runs for a win at the Wanderers stadium.

The 222-run partnership for the third wicket between Pujara and Kohli was the highest stand for third wicket for India in a Test second innings overseas. They beat the long standing record of Vinoo Mankad and Vijay Hazare, 211 versus England at Lord's in 1952.

Pujara and Kohli began the day on individual scores of 135 and 77, and team score of 284 for 2. The Proteas immediately took the new ball when it became due and the run-scoring did slow down as a result, but the milestones never stopped.

The 300 for India, in this second innings, came in the 85th over, while Pujara completed his 150 two overs later. This was the fourth time in his 16-Test career so far that he had gone past this individual score in an innings. He looked good for a bigger one, but the need to get runs quickly meant that he played an uncharacteristic cut stroke off a Jacques Kallis delivery, which was close to his body.

Kohli, meanwhile, carried on, even as Rohit Sharma (6) suffered another failure. He was bowled by Kallis in the 94th over, off an in-swinging delivery that stayed low. The big wicket for South Africa came when Kohli went on the backfoot for a cut off Duminy, in the 99th over of the innings, and was out caught behind. He was flustered with his dismissal, even so walked off to a standing ovation.
Dhoni then Ajinkya Rahane to muster some quick runs. They added 31 runs for the sixth wicket. But Rahane (15) fell at the stroke of lunch, out caught at slip off Duminy. India went to lunch with a hearty lead, placed at 358 for 6. 

Cheteshwar Pujara score unbeaten 135

JOHANNESBURG: Cheteshwar Pujara slammed a sparkling unbeaten 135 as India gained firm control of the first Test against South Africa with the top-order showing remarkable application to give the visitors a substantial overall lead of 320 on Friday.

South Africa score 213/6 second day against India in first Test

JOHANNESBURG: India's pace bowlers staged a dramatic turnaround with a devastating exhibition of swing bowling as South Africa suffered a stunning collapse to leave the first Test more or less on an even keel on Thursday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

The Indians lost five wickets for just 25 runs to be bundled out for 280 in their first innings but clawed back brilliantly to leave the hosts at 213 for six at close in an action-packed second day.

The hosts were cruising along comfortably at 130 for one before the Indian pacers wreaked havoc to completely change the complexion of the game on a Wanderers track which gave assistance to the quick bowlers.

The lanky Ishant Sharma (3-64) triggered the shocking batting collapse by dismissing Hashim Amla (36) and Jaques Kallis (0) off consecutive deliveries before Zaheer Khan got rid of captain Graeme Smith (68) -- all three wickets falling without a single run being added.

Mohammed Shami then struck for his team by evicting JP Duminy (2) and AB de Villers (13) in the same over to bring the Indians back into the game.

From 130 for one, the Proteas were suddenly struggling at 146 for six, losing five wickets in the span of 16 runs in the eventful last session.

The Proteas, however, recovered some lost ground with Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander stitching 67 runs for the unbroken seventh-wicket stand as Indian bowlers went wicketless for the last 21.3 overs.

Philander and du Plessis were batting on 48 and 17 respectively at stumps with South Africa still trailing by 67 runs.

The Indians were unlucky not to have the wicket of du Plessis as he was dropped on 17 by Rohit Sharma off Shami at the fag end of the day.

Smith and Hashim Amla started proceedings after tea, at 118/1, looking to further frustrate the Indians and increase their 81-run partnership for the second wicket. They could add only 12 runs though, before the drama began and wickets started falling in a heap.

Amla was the first to go. In the 37th over of the innings, he had cut Ishant over slips and it seemed like there might be some slow reverse swing available for the medium pacers.

In his next over, Ishant was on the money again, bringing the ball back into Amla sharply, as the batsman looked to leave and was bowled. Amla scored 36 runs off 74 balls, with six fours, as the floodgates opened.

Kallis walked in and walked out the very next minute, missing the line of another in-swinger and out plumb LBW. Ishant was on a hat-trick, but de Villiers had no problems facing up.

Buoyed by this revival, Zaheer got Smith trapped LBW in the very next over, as South Africa lost three wickets for no runs in nine deliveries.

The Proteas' captain made 68 runs off 119 balls, with eleven fours. This was the seventh time in 10 Tests that Zaheer dismissed him, and 14th overall across all formats, with 68 being the highest Smith has managed in those 14 innings.

Shami came on to bowl in the 45th over and the mayhem continued, as he struck on his first ball, removing Duminy caught at first slip by Murali Vijay. Two balls later, and it was de Villiers walking back, out LBW, as South Africa lost five wickets for 16 in just 39 balls.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had rotated his three quicker bowlers all day as R Ashwin (0-25) bowled only six overs in the South African innings.

Perhaps they were tired towards the end, as Du Plessis played with patience and Philander threw his bat around to put together 67 runs for the seventh wicket, taking them to stability.

Earlier, South Africa seemed to be in a solid position, scoring 118/1 at tea. Smith scored his 38th Test fifty -- and his eighth against India -- beginning the post-lunch session at 22 for no loss.

They only lost the wicket of opener Alviro Peterson (21), a sharp incoming delivery from Ishant trapping him LBW in the 14th over.

Amla and Smith then frustrated the Indian bowlers, who toiled hard and bowled better line and length as compared to the Proteas' attack on day one.

Smith was lucky as Zaheer induced an edge in 17th over of the innings, only for Ashwin to drop him at first slip. Smith was on 19 at that time. Thereafter they brought up their 50-run partnership in the 25th over, striking Ishant for two fours. The hundred for South Africa came up in the 31st over.

In the morning session, South Africa dismissed India for 280 runs in their first innings, their last five wickets falling for just 25 runs. India had begun the day at 255 for 5. Philander finished with 4 for 61 from 27 overs, while Morkel picked 3 for 34.

Dale Steyn bowled three overs on the second morning but he failed to add to his tally, finishing with 1 for 61. Kallis (1-37) took a wicket as well, while Imran Tahir (0-47) and Duminy (0-30) had gone wicket-less in their short spells on day one. For India, R Ashwin was the unbeaten batsman, 13 not out off 11 balls, with one four.

Starting at their overnight score, Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane looked to build on the platform provided by Virat Kohli's hundred. The former was accounted by Morkel in the 99th over, out for 19 runs adding only two from Wednesday. He faced 72 balls and hit three fours.

In the very next over, Philander made the ball leave off-stump just a tad and Rahane was out caught behind. He made 47 runs, adding only five to his overnight score, as India's hopes for a 350-plus total were undone. He faced 137 balls and hit eight fours in his long stay at the wicket.

Philander then trapped Zaheer Khan (first-ball-duck) plumb off his next ball, and although Ishant denied him a hat-trick, he was bowled in the 102nd over for an 11-ball duck. Morkel then bowled Shami (0), finishing off the visitors' first innings.

Pujara slips to seventh spot in ICC Test rankings

DUBAI: India's Cheteshwar Pujara slipped a rung to seventh in the batting list but R Ashwin remained steady at fifth in the bowling chart of the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Thursday.

Apart from Pujara, Virat Kohli, who struck a hundred on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday, is the only other Indian in the top-20 of the batting list. He is unchanged at 20th.

Among the bowlers, Pragyan Ojha moved up a spot to eighth. Ashwin, meanwhile, continued to hold the top position in the all-rounders' list.

Elsewhere, Australia opener David Warner has moved up three places after stellar performances against England in the Perth Test, which the home side won by 150 runs on Tuesday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.

Warner, who scored 60 and 112 to be the leading run-getter to date in the series, earned 51 ratings points to end at 741 ratings points, which has given him a lift of three places to put him just outside the top 10 in 11th position.

The other centurions from the Perth Test - Shane Watson and Steven Smith of Australia, and Ben Stokes of England - have also moved up the rankings.

Watson has jumped six places to 32nd, Smith has gained gain eight places to 37th, and Stokes has rocketed 81 places to 73rd.

South Africa's duo of AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla continue to head the rankings for Test

India made 280 runs in first inning against South Africa

South Africa bundle out India for 280 runs on Day 2 in first Test

NEW DELHI: Vernon Philander snared four wickets and Morne Morkel took three, as South Africa bundled out India for 280 runs in their first innings on the second day of the first Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Scorecard

India lost their last five wickets for just 25 runs as the Proteas pacers altered their lengths, taking full advantage of an overcast morning.

Morkel dismissed Indian captain MS Dhoni before Philander got rid of Ajinkya Rahane and Zaheer Khan off consecutive deliveries.

Morkel had Indian captain MS Dhoni caught behind by AB de Villiers in the ninth over of the day.

Morkel lured Dhoni on to the front foot with a length ball just outside off, the Indian captain got only half-forward as he poked at it and ended up edging the ball through to the keeper.

In the next over, Philander too had Rahane (47) caught behind and on the next delivery trapped Zaheer plumb in front of the wicket for a first ball duck.

India then lost their ninth wicket when Philander clean bowled Ishant Sharma with an incoming delivery.

The day's play started with Rahane and Dhoni resuming the Indian first innings.

On Day 1, centurion Virat Kohli and the determination of the new-look middle-order ensured that India reached 255/5 by stumps.

There was an intent shown by every Indian batsman to honour Dhoni's bold move to bat first on a bouncy track with a tinge of green. Even the openers Shikhar Dhawan (13) and M Vijay (6) looked to leave a lot of balls, something that they had worked on over the last one week.

Dhawan, though, threw it away trying a hook off Steyn with both deep square-leg and deep fine-leg back. Morne Morkel, coming in one change, bowled a few short ones to push Vijay on the backfoot and then pitched one up to induce the nick.

Cheteshwar Pujara took the brunt of the South African pacers as Kohli looked to express himself. But the best thing about the 89-run partnership that lasted 27 overs was the level-headed approach of the two batsmen. Both left a lot of deliveries on length, forcing the South African pacemen to change the off-stump line. The Kookaburra ball was also losing its nip and it allowed both Kohli and Pujara to take control.

A horrible mix-up led to Pujara's run out but by then the initial storm had blown over. Kohli had settled down very well and was looking equally comfortable both on the front and back foot. He was not playing at anything outside the off-stump and was choosy about playing the hook shot. He played the hook only when he was in line, thus ensuring that he had the shot always under control.

Rohit Sharma (14) was also looking good, but the habit of playing far away from his body led to his downfall. He nicked a well-pitched up delivery off Vernon Philander and the AB de Villiers didn't make any mistake.

But Kohli at the other end was unstoppable and reached his fifth Test ton. 

India vs South Africa first day Virat Kohli struck century 119

South Africa v India: Virat Kohli century helps tourists recover

Virat Kohli struck 119 to help India to reach 255-5 on the opening day of the first Test with South Africa.

Batting in the number four position vacated by the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar last month, Kohli hit 18 boundaries in his fifth Test century.
He had come to the crease in the 16th over after the India openers were dismissed cheaply in Johannesburg.
Kohli departed in the 76th over but Ajinkya Rahane, in only his second Test, recorded an unbeaten 43.
The 25-year-old, who made only seven and one on his debut against Australia in March, shared an unbroken partnership of 36 with skipper Mahendra Dhoni who had earlier chosen to bat on a wicket offering some assistance to the bowlers at the start of the two-match series.
Paceman Dale Steyn dismissed Shikhar Dhawan, who top-edged a rapid short-pitched delivery to Imran Tehir at fine-leg, before Murali Vijay edged a full-length ball from Morne Morkel to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.
Kohli seized on anything short but having shared 89 with Cheteshwar Pujara he called for a quick single only to send his partner back when he had almost joined him at the striker's end, with Pujara easily run out for 25.
Having reached his first Test hundred against South Africa and become only the third India batsman to make a century in Johannesburg, Kohli fell when he scooped a wide ball from Jacques Kallis to cover, the 289th Test wicket for the veteran all-rounder.