S Africa reveal strong Cup squad

Smith's men were dominant against an injury-hit Pakistan side

There were few surprises in the 15-man South Africa squad selected for the World Cup in the West Indies.

Seamer Charl Langeveldt won a place in a strong party featuring four leading all-rounders, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp.

The Proteas, twice semi-finalists in the World Cup, sealed a 3-1 one-day series triumph over Pakistan with a nine-wicket victory on Wednesday.

Skipper Graeme Smith said: "Confidence within the set-up is extremely high."

Smith was delighted the selectors had retained the squad that had comprehensively defeated the talented Pakistan side.

"We have worked together to make a formidable team over the last 18 months and everyone knows what their specific responsibilities are within the team," he said.

"We back each other and we will go out and give our best for our country.

"The success has been important for us. We believe in ourselves and it bodes well for a World Cup final place."

Veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock is also confident of his team's prospects of triumphing following a run of 13 wins in 17 one-day internationals.

The 33-year-old was named man of the series after taking nine wickets, including five in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

"We finished on a high note and we're going to head off to the World Cup with a lot of confidence.

"All credit to the team. The bowlers have been superb throughout. If we can continue with that and the batting form we've shown it will be great," Pollock said.

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Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher (wkt), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus.

Boucher breaks Test catch record!

Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher claimed a Test record 367th career catch as South Africa pegged Pakistan back from a good start on day one of the opening Test.

In his 100th Test, Boucher broke Aussie Ian Healy's mark by making Faisal Iqbal his second victim in the innings.

Pakistan, who won the toss, were 242-5 at stumps, with Kamran Akmal on 18 and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq 35 not out.

Yasir Hameed (65) and Younis Khan (68) shared a third-wicket stand of 133 but both fell after tea to poor shots.

In bowler-friendly early conditions, and without record-breaking batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who is with his pregnant wife at home, Inzamam's decision to bat first seemed brave.

Openers Imran Farhat (26) and Mohammad Hafeez (19) survived the first hour but both fell to Makhaya Ntini in the space of five balls from the opening bowler's second spell.

Hafeez was caught off the glove by a tumbling Boucher, just the fourth South African to appear in 100 Test matches.

There was less on offer for the bowlers through the afternoon, though, as Younis and Hameed reached half centuries just before the tea break.

Younis was first to his fifty, passing the mark off 78 balls with eight fours.

Hameed reached his half century in more spectacular fashion, flicking Jacques Kallis off his toes for the first six of the match.

But both men fell to irresponsible pull shots, tempted by Centurion Park's short boundaries, as South Africa banged the ball in short.

Younis fell to Shaun Pollock and Hameed, three overs later, to Andre Nel, who was recalled to the side with Dale Steyn suffering a side strain.

Boucher set the new mark when Faisal also tried to pull a delivery from Jacques Kallis that cramped him for space, Boucher collecting the top edge.

Pakistan were without all-rounder Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Umar Gul, who both had ankle injuries, and a barely fit Shoaib Akhtar did not arrive from Pakistan in time to play.

The record for most Test dismissals is still held by Healy, who played in 119 Tests and made 29 stumpings in his career for a total of 395.

Boucher, who has 15 stumpings, moved into second place with 382 dismissals, one more than Australia's Adam Gilchrist.

Boucher has played in 99 Tests for South Africa and one for the World XI against Australia last season, when he held two catches.

Statisticians argue over whether the match should count as a Test but the International Cricket Council considers it official.

Smith proud of South Africa fight

South Africa captain Graeme Smith hailed the way his side fought back from losing the first Test to clinch the series 2-1 against India.

Smith's side scored 211-5 to win the third and final Test by five wickets at Newlands in Cape Town.

"To come back from 1-0 down means you have to show a lot of character. I'm proud of them all," said Smith.

"With all the rubbish after the first Test it makes it even more meaningful."

Smith and nightwatchman Shaun Pollock resumed on 55-2 and added a brisk 56 to leave South Africa exactly 100 runs short when heavy rain forced a length delay.

"It was a really special victory for all of us and you can see the emotion in all the guys' faces

Graeme Smith"

After an early lunch, Smith fell for 55 and Pollock went soon after for 37 leaving Jacques Kallis (32) and Ashwell Prince (38no) to set up the victory inside the last hour of play.

But Smith admitted he was worried that the ever-present threat of rain could undo all South Africa's hard work after drawing the second Test in Durban.

"It was a little bit frustrating," said Smith, who also hit 94 in the first innings to earn the man-of-the-match award.

"After playing badly in Joburg and arriving in Durban under a serious amount of pressure, it was a very special effort by everyone to pick ourselves up and win that Test match.

"We brought a bit of confidence into this game, but I think the wicket suited the Indian team more than it did us, so to win here was a really special victory for all of us and you can see the emotion in all the guys' faces."

"To Rahul and his team - all the congratulations for the way they performed throughout this series

Graeme Smith"

Smith was also delighted on a personal level after bouncing back from scores of just five and 10 in Johannesburg with a second-innings 59 in Durban.

"I went through a tough period at the beginning of the season so it's always fantastic to come back in the way that I have and contribute to a special series win," he said.

"Things started to come right in Durban and I felt a lot better here in Cape Town and hopefully I can build on that in the Pakistan series and then on to the World Cup.

"I realise I'm an important cog with the bat and I've got to be working."

The skipper was also magnanimous in his praise for the Indian team under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid.

"They were superb," he said. "To Rahul and his team - all the congratulations for the way they performed throughout this series. They were an outstanding team and great assets and I wish them all the best for their future games.

"Hopefully at the World Cup we'll run into each other again and we can have a good drink."

Smith lavishes praise on bowlers

South Africa captain Graeme Smith applauded his battery of five pace bowlers who, led by Makhaya Ntini, wrapped up the Test win against India.

The hosts won by 174 runs in Durban to set up a decider in Cape Town.

Smith said: "Makhaya has been searching for one or two things and today it was fantastic to se him in full flight.

"We really showed a lot of discipline and a lot of charcter and I think the wicket was good so the bowlers did outstandingly well through the Test."

Ntini took five wickets in the second innings for match figures of 8-89, good enough to give him man-of-the-match honours over Ashwell Prince, who scored a century on day one.

But South Africa were almost denied victory by the weather in Durban, with India's tail-enders desperate to come off for bad light in the final session.
Smith said: "The adrenaline is pumping a lot at the moment. It got a bit fiery at the end there because the boys wanted to win really badly.

"But there were a lot of top performances and I'm just over the moon."

Having lost the series opener in Johannesburg, South Africa had endured a tough build-up to the Durban Test.

"It was pretty difficult," said Smith."There were, rightly, a few criticisms thrown at the team and I think some unjust ones also. Some people really went to town.

"I'm really proud that we stood up to the criticism and showed what we can do. This is what Test cricket is all about.

"We didn't play well enough in the first game but we have performed well here.
"There's still a lot of improving to do but hopefully we can find that in Cape Town to make it a fantastic end to the series."

Ntini said he had worked hard since the one-day series to make his bowling more effective.

He said: "A lot of hard work has been done adjusting from the one-dayers to the Tests.

"In the Tests we bowl 20 overs a day, in the one-dayers only 10.

"I would like to say thank you very much to the crowd of Durban, who have been fantastic. They support us very well.

"They want to see wickets falling and [fellow pace bowler] Andre Nel at the other end is always keeping them up and awake.

South Africa Pollock honoured

Durban: All-rounder Shaun Pollock was honoured by Kwazulu Natal Cricket Association here, for becoming first South African bowler to reach 400 Test wickets.
The paceman achieved the feat against India at the Wanderers, during his 103rd Test.
Pollock 33 thanked his father Peter Pollock, a former South African fast bowler, for his support.
He picked out his innings displays of five for 37 (against Pakistan in Faisalabad, 1997) and seven for 87 (against Australia in Adelaide,1998) as his most memorable efforts.
In Faisalabad, South Africa pulled off remarkable 53-run win
defending 145. In Adelaide, Pollock led attack in absence of his
illustrious new ball partner, Allan Donald. South Africa almost
snatched a win in this Test.

South Africa move clear of India

Second Test, Durban, day three:
South Africa 328 & 64-0 (stumps) v India 240

South Africa edged into a 152-run lead after compiling 64-0 before bad light brought an early finish to day three of the second Test against India.

Skipper Graeme Smith, unhappy at being forced off for light by the umpires, was 28 not out with AB de Villiers unbeaten on 31 in Durban.

The hosts skittled India for 240, with VVS Laxman (50no) and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (28) sharing a stand of 53.

India resumed on 103-3 but lost five wickets for 80 runs before lunch.

Umpire Mark Benson had to leave the field with heart palpitations four overs into the day.

The 48-year-old former Kent opener, who played one Test for England, was taken to hospital for tests and was admitted to intensive care as a precaution overnight.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said he was "hugely frustrated" by the shortened day's play.

"We obviously wanted to push the game forward tonight," said Arthur. "We were frustrated too by the amount of stoppages throughout the day, with ball changes and doctors running on the field.

"There needs to be some proper control of that or it could spill over into something very frustrating for us."

Only 58.4 overs were bowled in the day and Arthur claimed one of three ball changes took 20 minutes.

Makhaya Ntini began the damage with two early wickets before debutant seamer Morne Morkel claimed his first three Test victims.

Chasing South Africa's 328, Sachin Tendulkar resumed on 46no alongside Laxman and reached his first Test half-century of 2006 with an elegant off-drive against Ntini.

It was his 14th innings since his previous substantial score of 109 against Sri Lanka in Delhi in December 2005.

But he was the first to go after 40 minutes of play, caught behind by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher while trying to cut Ntini for 63.
Former skipper Sourav Ganguly followed two balls later for a duck after lobbing up an easy catch off the splice for Herschelle Gibbs at gully off Ntini.

The dashing Mahendra Dhoni blasted 34 off 39 balls in a stand of 54 with Laxman before edging his attempted cut to De Villiers at second slip off Morkel.

India lost Anil Kumble two overs later after the spinner flashed a wide one behind to Boucher off Morkel for 0, while Zaheer Khan made two runs from 20 balls before he was caught by Hashim Amla at short leg off Morkel.

Sreesanth eventually fell to Boucher off Andrew Hall after stroking five fours in his late stand with Laxman, while Shaun Pollock wrapped up the innings when he handed Boucher another victim, Vikram Singh (4).

Morkel ended with 3-86 off 18, while Ntini took his figures to 3-41 off 15 overs and Pollock kept the Indian shotmakers tied down with a miserly 1-17 off 14.5 overs.

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 123 runs.

South Africa edge away from India

Second Test, Durban, day three:
South Africa 328 & 22-0 (tea) v India 240
Scorecard

South Africa edged into a 110-run lead after reaching tea 22-0 in their second innings on day three of the second Test against India in Durban.

Skipper Graeme Smith was seven not out with AB de Villiers unbeaten on 13.

The hosts ended India's resistance on 240, with VVS Laxman (50no) and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (28) sharing a late stand of 53.

India added 80 runs for the loss of five wickets in the morning session after resuming on 103-3.

The visitors lost Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Dhoni, Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan to trail by 145 runs at lunch.

Makhaya Ntini began the damage with two early wickets before debutant seamer Morne Morkel claimed his first three victims.

Chasing the South African total of 328, Tendulkar resumed on 46 not out alongside Laxman and reached his first Test half-century of 2006 with an elegant off-drive against Ntini.

It was his 14th innings since his previous substantial score of 109 against Sri Lanka in Delhi in December 2005.

But he was the first to go after 40 minutes of play, caught behind by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher while trying to cut Ntini for 63.

Former skipper Ganguly followed two balls later for a duck after lobbing up an easy catch off the splice for Herschelle Gibbs at gully off Ntini.

The dashing Dhoni blasted 34 off 39 balls in a stand of 54 with Laxman before edging his attempted cut to AB de Villiers at second slip off Morkel.

India lost Kumble two overs later for no further score after the spinner flashed a wide one behind to Boucher off Morkel for 0, while Khan made two runs from 20 deliveries before he was caught by Hashim Amla at short leg off Morkel.

Sreesanth eventually fell to Boucher off Andrew Hall after stroking five fours in his late stand with Laxman, while Pollock wrapped up the innings when he handed Boucher another victim, Vikram Singh (4).

Morkel ended with 3-86 off 18, while Ntini took his figures to 3-41 off 15 overs and Shaun Pollock kept the Indian shotmakers tied down with a miserly 1-17 off 14.5 overs.

Umpire Mark Benson had to leave the field with heart palpitations four overs into the day. He was taken to hospital for tests.

His replacement, South African Ian Howell, was called into action with the first ball bowled at his end when Laxman, on 11, tried to hook Ntini and appeared to edge the ball behind to Boucher. Howell gave the batsman not out.

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 123 runs.

scorecard-2nd test between SA and India

26-12-2006 at Durban, Day 3 of 5
In Play
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat
SA 1st Innings328 all out (91.3 overs) | SA 2nd Innings 50 for 0 (17.2 overs)
India 1st Innings
240 all out (77.5 overs)






Note:Click on the scorecard to enlarge




India is in a huge huge trouble at the moment.and they will have to work really hard to get out of the situation.
Umpires: Asad Rauf, I L Howell
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H H Gibbs, A J Hall, H M Amla, A G Prince, M V Boucher, A Nel, M Ntini, J A Morkel, S M Pollock
India: V Sehwag, W Jaffer, R Dravid, S R Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, S C Ganguly, M S Dhoni, A Kumble, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, V R V Singh

Awaiting your comments:)

Prince inspired by Aussie batsmen

South Africa's century-maker Ashwell Prince said he had drawn strength from Australia's Ashes performance, during the second Test against India.

Prince, 98 not out after day one, went on to make 121 after watching coverage of Matthew Hayden's 153 and Andrew Symonds' unbeaten 154 against England.

"I was up early this morning watching the Aussies get all the runs, hoping I'd get a hundred too," said Prince.

"It's pleasing for me but it will mean a lot more if we can win the match."

Prince's fifth Test century and third of the year took South Africa to 328 and a lead of 225 after the visitors closed on 103-3 following an early finish because of bad light.
Prince, who was out for 97 in the first Test, had converted just 15 of his 33 first-class half-centuries into hundreds before this match.

In Test matches he had gone on to three figures each time he had reached 50.

"If you look at my first-class record you will see that I have scored a lot more fifties than hundreds, and when I came into the Test arena I realised that was an area in which I needed to up my game," Prince said.

"To make big contributions to the team cause I needed to make hundreds and not just fifties."

Prince played down the significance of his skipper Graeme Smith's dropped chance at slip when Sachin Tendulkar got a thick edge on 21.

Tendulkar was 46 not out at the close with partner VVS Laxman unbeaten on 10.

"Sachin is a great batsman, but these things happen," Prince said. "It's unfortunate, but we've just got to keep our heads up and take the next chance."

Smith was keen to stay on the field when the umpires offered India the light half an hour after tea but Prince insisted the extra time allowed on Thursday could be to South Africa's advantage.

"Hopefully we can nip out one or two batsmen in that extra half hour," he said.

"Then if the sun comes out perhaps some cracks will open up on days three and four and it might be interesting on day five.

"It's a big match, we're one down and we need to get a win to go to Cape Town 1-1."

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 123 runs.

BBC sports

Test Match Series: South Africa v India

26-12-2006 at Durban, Day 2 of 5

Close
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat
South Africa 1st Innings
328 all out (91.3 overs)
India 1st Innings
103 for 3 (38.4 overs)

Here is the scorecard of the 2nd match between Southafrica and India.



Umpires: Asad Rauf, M R Benson
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H H Gibbs, A J Hall, H M Amla, A G Prince, M V Boucher, A Nel, M Ntini, J A Morkel, S M Pollock
India: V Sehwag, W Jaffer, R Dravid, S R Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, S C Ganguly, M S Dhoni, A Kumble, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, V R V Singh

India progress checked by weather

Second Test, Durban, day two:
South Africa 328 v India 103-3 (close)




India reached 103-3 in reply to South Africa's 328 all out before bad light brought an early end to day two of the second Test in Durban.

Sachin Tendulkar compiled a patient 46 not out after being dropped by opposing skipper Graeme Smith on 21, while VVS Laxman was unbeaten on 10.

India lost Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer after Ashwell Prince had made 121 for the hosts.

It was Prince's fifth Test century and included 16 fours.

Having resumed on 98 not out, it was a huge relief when he drove Shanthakumaran Sreesanth to the cover boundary to reach three figures after being dismissed for 97 during the first Test in Johannesburg.

Prince found reliable support from newcomer Morne Morkel in a ninth-wicket stand of 39 before departing when Sreesanth (4-109) found the edge with the second new ball and Laxman took a high slip catch.

South Africa's resistance continued with Morkel and Makhaya Ntini adding a further 32 runs for the last wicket, but Ntini was eventually leg-before to spinner Anil Kumble, leaving Morkel unbeaten on 31.

India's reply began miserably when Sehwag was brilliantly caught by AB de Villiers diving right at second slip off the first ball he faced, bowled by Andre Nel.
Once again Sehwag was guilty of a loose waft outside off stump and it was the 10th time he has been dismissed for 10 or under during 2006.

Shortly after lunch, skipper Dravid was out lbw for 11 to an angled ball from Nel as the South African seam attack tightened their grip, although TV replays suggested it would have cleared the top of the stumps.

Newcomer Morkel was introduced as first change by South Africa, but he proved expensive as Jaffer picked off two fours in his second over and Tendulkar found the boundary from two successive deliveries in his next.

He was soon withdrawn by Smith and South Africa succeeded in stifling the scoring before Jaffer, after a spell of five maiden overs, fell to Ntini for 26 with the total on 61 as de Villiers claimed another slip catch.

India survived another wobble shortly afterwards when Smith put down a straightforward chance at first slip from the edge of Tendulkar's bat off Andrew Hall.

The visitors reached tea on 93-3 and brought the 100 up soon after the re-start but the players were then forced to leave the field with 30 overs lost.

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 123 runs.
BBC Sports

Gibbs hopeful of home fightback

South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs believes his team are in a potentially strong position despite their modest 257-8 on day one of the second Test.

Gibbs hit 63 to help the hosts recover from 28-3, sharing 94 with Ashwell Prince, who made an unbeaten 98.

"There was lateral movement and we played and missed a lot," said Gibbs, who bagged a pair in the first Test.

"The wicket will quicken up. If we can squeeze another 40 runs their batsmen will have their work cut out."

Following his double failure in Johannesburg Gibbs was moved down to the key number four position, partly to cover for the injured Jaques Kallis and provide some experience in the middle order.

"I've been up and down the order for the past year-and-a-half, because I'm probably the second most senior batsman in the top six," said the 32-year-old, playing his 81st Test.
"I've got to bat wherever they want me to bat, I'm just happy to be playing.

"I was disappointed I didn't push on to at least a hundred, but I guess some runs is better than no runs, and it was good to spend some time in the middle again."

Gibbs was full of admiration for gritty left-hander Prince, who will need only two more runs on Wednesday to complete his fifth Test century.

"He's been very sound, very tight, and that's probably how you play Test cricket.

"He hasn't flirted with his form - when the ball's been there to hit, he's hit it. He's also defended positively."

India skipper Rahul Dravid was also pleased with his side's position after South Africa were able to choose to bat in Durban.

"To lose the toss and end up the way we did was a great effort by all the boys," said Dravid, who confirmed that star batsman Sachin Tendulkar was "fine" after bruising his thumb.

"We worked really hard, even in the afternoon session when we only got one wicket. We stuck to the task and played good cricket."

"It was a tough grind out there, and we showed a lot of character as a team."

South Africa top order again perished by India

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first in the second Test against India at Kingsmead, Durban. But they were struck a severe blow as Jacques Kallis was ruled out of the second Test with a back injury.
They lost there main 3 players just at the score of 28 in 12.3 Overs.After loosing the third wicket,Gibbs and prince are trying there level best to remain in the game.and they are,so far,quite succesfull.
the wicket of gibbs has just fallen:
the scorecard at the moment looks like:
GC Smith 5 c Tendulkar b Khan 5 (13b 0x4 0x6) SR: 38.46
AB de Villiers 9 c Tendulkar b Sreesanth 9 (38b 1x4 0x6) SR: 23.68
HM Amla 1 lbw b Khan 1 (16m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 11.11
HH Gibbs 63 c Dhoni b Sreesanth 63 (88b 13x4 0x6) SR: 71.59
AG Prince 32*
Boucher 1*

Name Overs M R W Econ Extras
Z Khan 12 5 25 2 2.08 (1nb, 1w)
S Sreesanth 9.6 2 38 2 3.80 (1nb)
VRV Singh 8 1 37 0 4.62 (3nb)
A Kumble 3 0 10 0 3.33 (2nb)
SC Ganguly 3 1 11 0 3.66 (2nb)



SA:123/4 in 36 overs.

If u visit the page,please provide us with your comments.They really give courage and strength to write more.Have a nice day:)

Controversy hits South African cricket

JOHANNESBURG: South African cricket, already reeling after the national team collapsed to 84 all out in the first Test against India, found itself enmeshed in front page controversy on Sunday.
The Sunday Times reported that vice-captain and star all-rounder Jacques Kallis refused to sing the national anthem, while the Afrikaans newspaper Rapport published strong criticism of the sport’s officials by spin bowler Nicky Boje, who retired suddenly when he was due to join the team for the Test.
Cricket South Africa (SA) will discuss with Kallis what the player describes as “good and valid personal reasons” why he does not sing the national anthem when it is played before international matches.
The Sunday Times published an e-mail from Kallis to a member of the public who had queried why he did not sing the anthem.
Kallis wrote: “It is my choice whether I sing or do not sing the anthem. I certainly do not have to explain my reasons to anyone, especially you. I do have good and valid personal reasons and I intend to keep it that way.”
Kallis refused to elaborate on his comments but Cricket SA chief executive Gerald Majola said the issue would be discussed with the player after the Test.
Meanwhile, Boje told Rapport he felt he had been harshly treated by the selectors. “At some stage you have to ask yourself where you are going and where your loyalties lie. Mine are no longer with the Proteas,” he said.
Boje, who will continue to play domestic cricket for the Eagles franchise, said an unhealthy situation had developed in South African cricket.
He said he believed several players would opt to play their cricket in other countries if they were not selected for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

India beat S Africa in first Test

JOHANNESBURG: Indian Leg-spinner Anil Kumble took three wickets as India completed triumph by beating South Africa by 123 runs on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium Monday.

A defiant 97 by Ashwell Prince could not prevent India from achieving their first Test win in three tours of South Africa.

Prince and Shaun Pollock, virtually the only South Africans who shone in the match, put on 67 for the seventh wicket, their team's highest partnership of either innings, to delay India's victory celebrations.

The stand was ended by Kumble, who bowled Pollock for 40. Kumble then trapped Andre Nel leg before before bowling Prince when the left-hander went down the pitch and misjudged the flight. Kumble took three for 54.

India's win was set up when they bowled out South Africa for 84 in the first innings when opening bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth took five for 40.

Sreesanth, who followed up with three top order wickets in South Africa's second innings, was unable to add to his wicket tally as South Africa's last five wickets fell for 115 Monday. Sreesanth had match figures of eight for 99.

South Africa's slim hopes of pulling off a miracle win suffered an early blow when Mark Boucher was out to the 15th ball of the morning without adding to his overnight score of 23. Boucher played across a full-length ball from left-armer Zaheer Khan and was given out leg before.

Pollock played an attacking innings, hitting Khan out of the attack with some powerful blows, including a hooked six. He made his runs off 41 balls with six fours and a six. But the introduction of the experienced Kumble effectively snuffed out South Africa's hopes of getting anywhere near a victory target of 402.

Following the dismissal of Nel, Prince played some attacking shots and seemed on course for his fifth Test century before being bowled three runs short. He defied the Indian bowlers for 327 minutes, faced 223 balls and hit 11 fours.

It was his second near miss at the Wanderers. Last season he was out for 93 against Australia. South Africa were bowled out for 278, the highest total of the match, when Makhaya Ntini was caught at point off Zaheer Khan after the second new ball was taken.

The second match in a three-Test series starts in Durban on December 26.