Wickets galore in Durban

Returning pacer Zaheer Khan and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh sent South Africa crashing to 131 all out.

DURBAN: The bowlers of South Africa and India took it in turns to cause carnage as 18 wickets fell for 245 runs on the second day of the second Test at Kingsmead.

At the end of an extraordinary day, India, on 92 for four in their second innings, held an overall lead of 166 runs in the battle between the world’s two top-ranked Test nations.

When India were all out for 205, losing their last four wickets for 22 runs at the start of the day, it seemed that the host nation were set to dominate the match, with
conditions for batting expected to ease after an overcast first day.

But returning fast-bowler Zaheer Khan and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh sent South Africa crashing to 131 all out, giving India a first innings lead of 74.

Khan took three for 36 and Harbhajan four for 10.

India hurried to 42 without loss in their second innings and looked well on course to avenge their innings defeat in the first Test before the home side hit back.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2010.