15 years on: India's demolition of South Africa at Eden Gardens
India will kick-start their home Test series against South Africa with the first of the two matches set to be hosted at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. For the first time in six years, the Eden Gardens will host a Test match - interestingly the venue where India registered a win back in 2010 to kick-start a run of eight matches unbeaten against South Africa in Tests on home soil.
Despite South Africa being dominant in recent times in terms of Test cricket with three wins from the last four games, India’s win in Cape Town was a resounding statement made in 2024. As we look forward to another exciting Test series at home, here’s what unfurled in the Mecca of cricket when the two teams met for the last time at the venue, sporting the regal whites.
Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bat first. Much to the woes of the visitors, they lost Graeme Smith (4) early. However, a solid showdown from debutant Alviro Petersen (100) and Hashim Amla (114) saw the Indian bowlers put under the pump.
However, once Zaheer Khan picked up the crucial wicket of Petersen, from thereon, India didn’t let the Proteas settle. From 218/1, they were bundled out for 296, a scathing collapse that gave India an upper hand in the contest. Zaheer led the charge with figures of 4/90 while Harbhajan Singh chimed with a three-fer as the visitors were dismantled in short succession. If India’s remarkable turnaround wasn’t worrisome for the visitors already, what followed thereafter was sheer torment for the Rainbow Nation.
Four centuries in the Indian innings dashed out any hopes that South Africa may have had after their collapse. Virender Sehwag (165), Sachin Tendulkar (106), VVS Laxman (143*) and MS Dhoni (132*) allowed India to tot up 643/5, securing a lead of 347 runs.
If South Africa had to fight back, they needed something very special. Unfortunately for the visitors, both their openers, Graeme Smith (20) and Alviro Petersen (21) were dismissed early. However, a marathon innings from Hashim Amla, who knitted together patience and shards of belligerence, scoring 123 from 394 balls and spent close to almost a whopping 500 minutes at the crease gave them hope.
Yet, despite Amla's brilliance, he didn't receive support from his batting partners, and eventually, South Africa were wrapped up for 290. Harbhajan Singh dished out a five-wicket haul while Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra combined to claim the other half of the visitors' wickets. India registered a solid win by an innings and 57 runs, one among the streak of eight victories by the home team in Tests against the Rainbow Nation.
