IND vs SA: When Steyn and Amla combined powers to defeat India
In recent years, India have become unbeatable at home. The last time, India lost a Test series at home was seven years ago. Since then the Asian giants have won 10 series on the trot. In fact, the number one ranked Test team has lost only one Test match at home since 2012. However, before this golden period, India were not such a magnificent force. In 2010, South Africa defeated India at Nagpur by an innings and 6 runs. This remains India’s last innings defeat at home. Two heroes in this victory for South Africa were Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.
Amla takes charge
South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to bat first. The decision seemed to have backfired for the Proteas when they found themselves reeling 6/2. Zaheer Khan accounted for both Ashwell Prince and his favourite victim Smith. That brought Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis to the crease. The resilient duo batted out the complete day without losing any more wickets. Kallis took lead at that stage with 159 not out while Amla ended the day on 115 not out.
On the second day, Amla took charge after Kallis fell on 173. Using his nimble feet and sweep shots to great effect against the Indian spinners, the bearded batsman brought up his double ton. South Africa eventually declared on 558/6 with Amla batting not out on 253. No other non-Indian batsman has gone past this score since Amla’s heroics.
Steyn gun fires
Indian openers saw off the remaining four overs on the second day without any damage. However, they were under assault from the Protea pacer on the next day. After dismissing Murali Vijay and Sachin Tendulkar early, Steyn returned for a lethal spell with the old ball. With his reverse swing, Steyn reduced India from 220/4 to 233 all out. His bowling figures after the first innings were 16.4 – 6 – 51 – 7! These are still the best bowling figures by a non-Indian fast bowler in India since 2010.
India had to follow-on. The batsmen disappointed once again with exception of one – Sachin Tendulkar. He went on to score 100 runs but still failed to save the team from suffering an innings defeat. Steyn took 3/57 in the second essay to complete a 10-wicket haul. The duo of Amla and Steyn handed South Africa a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. However, the hosts fought back in the next Test at Kolkata and squared the series.
One of my all-time favourite sporting memories was watching two legends help South Africa destroy India in Nagpur in 2010. Hashim Amla scored 253* while Dale Steyn took 10/108 on an absolute road as the Proteas won by an innings and 6 runs. pic.twitter.com/TygzmwkDoO
— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) August 9, 2019
