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.