India defied an unbeaten century from Hashim Amla to crush South Africa by an innings and 57 runs in the final Test on Thursday to draw the series 1-1. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed 5-59 as the tourists, trailing by 347 runs on the first innings, were bowled out for 290 in their second knock with just nine deliveries remaining in the match.
INDIA RETAINS NO.1 TEST RANKING Amla returned unbeaten on 123 to finish the series with an astonishing average of 490 after making 253 not out in the first Test and 114 in the opening innings of this match. The 26-year-old from Durban battled for 394 deliveries and struck 16 boundaries in his ninth Test century, but failed to help his team to win the series Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Indians, who lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and six runs, retained their number one Test ranking with 124 rating points.
Last man Morne Morkel (12) kept Amla company for 20.4 overs before being leg-before to Harbhajan in the penultimate over of the match in front of 40,000 relieved fans at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
As Amla waged a lone battle, India sorely missed pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who was confined to the dressing room the entire day with a knee injury. "It was a great win considering we had just three bowlers left to do the job," said Dhoni. "Harbhajan and the others bowled so well that we desperately wanted to be on the winning side.
"It was important for us to bat just once in the match and four of us got hundreds. Then we left it to the bowlers and they responded superbly." "Amla has been outstanding through the series. He has become our glue at number three. I don't think any of us have seen him play better. He has a calm mind and has been working very hard.
Amla, who was declared the man of the match and the series, was understandably disappointed. "I am tired, but also very disappointed that we lost. It was a very good wicket. We could have saved it because there wasn't anything unplayable in the wicket. "I am just grateful that I had a good series. I now look forward to the one-dayers.
SCOREBOARD South Africa 1st innings: 296
India 1st innings: 643-6 decl.
South Africa 2nd innings (overnight 115-3):
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G. Smith lbw b Mishra 20
A. Petersen c Badrinath b Harbhajan 21
Hashim Amla not out 123
J. Kallis c Dhoni b Mishra 20
A. Prince c Sharma b Harbhajan 23
AB de Villiers lbw b Mishra 3
JP Duminy lbw b Harbhajan 6
D. Steyn lbw b Harbhajan 1
W. Parnell c Harbhajan b Sharma 22
P. Harris c sub (Karthik) b Sharma 4
M. Morkel lbw b Harbhajan 12
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Extras: (b6, lb5, nb18, w1, pen5) 35
Total: (all out) 290
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Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-54, 3-111, 4-158, 5-164, 6-172, 7-180, 8-250, 9-264, 10-290.
Bowling: Zaheer 6-0-32-0, Harbhajan 48.3-23-59-5, Sharma 25-5-84-2 (nb9, w1), Mishra 40-12-78-3 (nb9), Sehwag 10-2-20-0, Tendulkar 2-1-1-0
RESULT: India won by an innings and 57 runs; series drawn 1-1
Toss: South Africa
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Steve Davis (AUS)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).
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