Ind vs SA - India win 3rd Test by 8 wickets to Level Series

India have leveled the series against South Africa by winning third and final test easily on the third day of the match. India wrapped up an eight-wicket win within three days at Green Park in Kanpur.

The hosts were set a target of just 62 runs after a spectacular collapse in the evening session saw the tourists skittled out for 121 in their second innings.

And although India lost the wickets of Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag in their chase, the result never looked in doubt as India claimed the win they needed to draw the series 1-1.

In the morning India took 1st inning lead of 60 runs with the help of tail-enders Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth batted beautifully for the last-wicket stand of 46 runs.

The series has been drawn 1-1 which means that India retain No 2 status in the ICC Test Rankings.

The Man of the Match is Sourav Ganguly for his invaluable 87 in the first innings.

Harbhajan Singh is the Man of the Series and he gets a SUV for his 19 wickets in the series.

Match Summary:

South Africa 1st Inning - 265 All Out in 87.3 overs.

India 1st Inning - 325 All Out in 99.4 overs.

South Africa 2nd Inning - 121 All Out in 55.5 overs.

India 2nd Inning - 64/2 in 13.1 overs.

Toss - South Africa, who chose to bat first

Man of the Match - Sourav Ganguly (India)

Man of the Match - Harbhajan Singh (India)

Result - India won by 8 wickets.

Series - Series 3-match series drawn 1-1.

India vs South Africa 3rd Test Score - India take lead of 23 runs

The third and final test match between India and South Africa is in interesting stage as India took lead of just 23 runs with 1 wicket remaining on Saturday, the 2nd day of the match at Green Park, Kanpur.

Half centuries from Sourav Ganguly (87) and VVS Laxman (50) helped India reach 288 for nine and surpass the South Africa's 265 runs.

Tomorrow morning is important for India as well as South Africa as host try to take as much lead as possible with Sreesanth (nine not out) and Ishant Sharma (0no) at the crease.

As the day passes pitch will become difficult to play so 1st inning lead is crucial.

India vs South Africa 3rd Test - SA bowled out for 265 runs in 1st inning

India bounced back strongly to dismiss South Africa for 265 runs on the stump of day 1 of the third and final test match at Green park, Kanpur on Friday.

At one stage, the South Africans were 152 /1 before the hosts hit back with three wickets as Smith, Amla and Jacques Kallis out for the loss of just nine runs shortly before tea.

Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma finished with three wickets each while Piyush Chawla two wickets.

For South Africa only Captain Smith and Hashim Amla contributed well with half centuries, scored 69 and 51 runs respectively.

Tomorrow morning, India's batsmen, will have to apply themselves for run-scoring won't be easy with South Africa's disciplined attack and sharp fielding outfit. A first-innings lead will be precious.

India vs South Africa 3rd Test Live Score - Kumble Out, SA 52/0

South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat in the third and final Test against India at Green park, Kanpur on Friday, 11th April 2008. Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper to captain India in a Test after Anil Kumble failed a late fitness test in the series-deciding match.

For India, Yuvraj Singh, Ishant Sharma and Piyush Chawla have been included in the playing eleven in place of Irfan Pathan, RP Singh and Anil Kumble.

South Africa have named an unchanged side which won the 2nd test at Ahmedabad.

India is trailing the series to South Africa by 1-0 and will try hard to level the series. The first Test match in Chennai ended in a tame draw while South Africa trounced India by an innings and 90 runs in Ahmedabad.

India's Playing Eleven:

MS Dhoni (Captain/Wicketkeeper), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, S Sreesanth.

South Africa's Playing Eleven:

Graeme Smith (Captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

South Africa has a great start scored 52 runs without any wicket after 15 overs.

India vs South Africa 3rd Test Team - Ishant and Munaf back in Squad

Fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel have been included in the 16-member Indian squad for the third and final Test against South Africa at Green park in Kanpur from Friday, 11th April to Tuesday, 15th April 2008.

Offspinner Ramesh Powar has also been recalled as a cover for Anil Kumble, who is suffering from a groin injury, while RP Singh has been dropped after his lacklustre performance in the first two Tests.

Both Ishant and Kumble will undergo fitness tests on April 10, after which two players will be omitted from the squad. Ishant had missed the first two Tests due to an inflammation to his big toe and a finger injury, both sustained during India's recent tour to Australia.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test - SA seal Emphatic win in 3 dys

South Africa won the second Test against India within three days at , claiming victory by an innings and 90 runs at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad on Saturday, 5th April, 2008.

Sourav Ganguly stood on the burning deck nearly four hours for a fine 87 runs, he added 110 with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and 55 with VVS Laxman. Dhoni reached his half-century from and Irfan Pathan struck unbeaten 122 balls43 runs.

Following AB de Villiers' stunning unbeaten double century on Friday, the Proteas decided to declare on 494 for seven at the start of the day - a lead of 418 runs.

And they then worked their way through the India batting line-up to remove the hosts for 328 in their second outing and take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Match Summary:

India 1st Inning - 76 All Out in 20 overs.

South Africa 1st Inning - 494/7 wickets dec. 141.2 overs.

India 2nd Inning - 328 All Out in 94.2 overs.

Toss - India, who chose to bat first.

Man of the Match - AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Result - South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs.

Series - South Africa led the 3-match series 1-0.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test Live Score - Ind bowled out on 76 runs

India have been bowled out for a paltry 76 in just 20 overs on the first day of the 2nd test at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad.

This has been a super show by the South African pacers. Irfan Pathan is the top scorer for India, 21 not out. The second highest number is 19 extras, followed by 14 by Dhoni.

Indian captain Anil Kumble has won the toss and elected to bat first at Motera. India have opted for five bowlers, with Irfan Pathan coming in for the injured Sachin Tendulkar. RP Singh, who seemed to struggle in the first Test, has been given another chance. South Africa have fielded an unchanged side.

India's Playing Eleven:

Anil Kumble (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Irfan Pathan, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni (Wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, S Sreesanth.

South Africa's Playing Eleven:

Graeme Smith (Captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

India vs South Africa 2nd Test - Sachin Tendulkar Out of Test Series

Sachin Tendulkar has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa with a groin strain. Second Test between India and South Africa will start from Thursday, 3rd April 2008 to Monday, 7th April 2008 at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad.

The 34-year-old will be replaced in the squad for the match in Ahmedabad by Mohammad Kaif.

Tendulkar missed parts of the first Test in Chennai with the problem and did not take the field on the final day.

India vs South Africa 1st Test day 2 update - SA 540, India 82/0

Hashim Amla posted 159 as South Africa reached an imposing first-innings total of 540 on day two of the first Test against India at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Thursday, 27th March 2008. India replied strongly with 82/0 in 21 overs at the end of day 2.

Amla's superb innings spanned 262 balls and ended only with a run out, but there was still time for Boucher, who made 70, and Morne Morkel, with a brisk 35, to flog sagging spirits before Harbhajan Singh returned to mop up the tail and finish with 5 for 164.
India has to go a long way on the 3rd day of the match in order to save the test. Sehwag is looking in fine touch with unbeaten 52 runs well supported by Jaffer playing on 25 runs.

India vs South Africa 1st Test Live Score - Hashim Amla hit a century, SA-371/5

Hashim Amla of South Africa hit a fabulous century on the second day of 1st test match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Thursday, 27th March 2008. South Africa is continue to dominate on the second day also.

India has tough task ahead to restrict visitors to below 400. Sreesanth took the only wicket of the morning of AB de Villiers caught by Dhoni on 44 runs.

Hashim Amla plying on 112 along with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher on 5 runs.

India vs South Africa 1st Test Update - SA 304/4 at stump of day 1

South Africa in commanding position at the stump of day 1, having scored 304 for 4 after winning the toss of the first Test at Chennai. Kumble and Harbhajan did well to get India back into the match after a solid opening partnership between Smith and McKenzie. Kallis and Prince fell cheaply but Amla did well to carry on the good work.

The pitch had nothing for the new ball bowlers but RP Singh and Sreesanth were guilty of giving away too many boundary balls which allowed South Africa to build momentum with ease. All four wickets fell to the spinners - Kumble and Harbhajan - but the pitch has been extremely good for batting. India's fielding was sluggish and there were several appalling half-hearted attempts.

Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith led the way with a 132-run opening partnership, and Hashim Amla built on that with an elegant unbeaten 85 as South Africa seized the initiative on the opening day of this three-Test series.

India has a tough task ahead in order to take control of the match.

India vs South Africa 1st Test Live Score - SA elected to bat, 43/0

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has won the toss and elected to bat against India on day one of the first Test of the 3 match series at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Wednesday, 26th March 2008.

India are playing four specialist bowlers and Irfan Pathan misses out in favour of RP Singh and S Sreesanth. Wasim Jaffer has been retained as opener.

South Africa chose an expected line-up, with three fast bowlers and a lone spinner. Neil McKenzie, coming off a double-hundred in their previous Test, will be join Smith at the top of the order and the duo will hope to lead a strong batting charge.

India have lost only one Test at Chepauk in the last 23 years.

India's Playing Eleven:

Anil Kumble (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni (Wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, S Sreesanth.

South Africa's Playing Eleven:

Graeme Smith (Captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

South Africa was 43/0 after 10 overs with Smith on 20 and McKenzie on 21.

India vs South Africa 1 st Test Match Live Score at Chepauk, Chennai

1st test match of the 3 match series between India and South Africa will start on Wedesday, 26th March, 2008 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Anil Kumble's sights are firmly fixed on South Africa but at the back of his mind he's also thinking of the three top teams he will encounter later in the year. Graeme Smith remains totally focused on the challenge at hand but he too couldn't stop mentioning what a 'huge' year this is for him and his team.

Neither captain may admit it now but this series could be the start of a heated battle for No. 2. By this time next year one of these sides, if not both, could even be dreaming higher. India have South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia and England lined up in the next twelve months. South Africa have an equally challenging itinerary with India, England and Australia to think of. India is currently at No. 2 with South Africa just two points behind in fourth place. A consistent year for either could alter that.

India vs South Africa - 2008 Test Series Schedule

2008 South Africa Tour of India

South Africa tour of India will start with test series as the first test starting from 26th March, 2008. Find the complete schedule of Test Series with date, timing and stadium information.

Test Series Schedule:

1st Test Match:
Wednesday, 26th March - Sunday, 30th March 2008
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

2nd Test Match:
Thursday, 3rd April - Monday, 7th April 2008
Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

3rd Test Match:
Friday, 11th April - Tuesday, 15th April 2008
Green Park, Kanpur

Test Series will be followed by One Day Series.

India vs South Africa Test Series - Indian Team Squad

Murali Karthik has been included as the third spinner in the side for the first two Test matches after fast bowler Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the first Test following an injury. The squad apart from this one replacement remained unchanged from the one that toured Australia.

However, Murali twisted his ankle in a Deodhar Trophy match on Monday and leg spinner Piyush Chawla has been named as a back up spinner.

The team for the first two Test matches:

Anil Kumble (Captain)
MS Dhoni (wicket keeper)
Sachin Tendulkar
Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
VVS Laxman
Yuvraj Singh
Virender Sehwag
Wassim Jaffer
S Sreesanth
RP Singh
Irfan Pathan
Harbhajan Singh and
Murali Karthik


Dhoni and Harbhajan will have to undergo a fitness test on March 21. If Dhoni fails in the fitness test, he will be replaced by Dinesh Karthik.

Chawla has been kept as back up in case Murali is unable to recover in time for the first Test begiining from March 26.