South Africa Historical Win Test series

South Africa have sealed a historic Test series victory in Australia, winning the second Test after reaching 183 for the loss of just one wicket.

It is Australia’s first defeat in a home series for 16 years.

Graeme Smith’s side hugged on the team balcony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Hashim Amla stroked the winning runs shortly after lunch on the fifth day.

The emphatic victory came after the captain thumped an impressive 75 before losing his wicket shortly before lunch.

His fellow opener Neil McKenzie carried on to score 59 not out, as the Proteas notched up an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the final Test in Sydney.

With Australian cricket’s iconic MCG awash with empty seats for the stunning victory, an emotional Smith said he was grateful for an incredible team effort.

He singled out for praise newcomer Jean-Paul Duminy, who scored a magnificent 166 in the first innings to put South Africa into a commanding position on the third day.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn, who took 10 wickets in the game and scored 76 in the first innings, was named man of the match.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said his side had been outplayed by South Africa in “all the big moments” of the two matches, and congratulated the Proteas on a victory that was “very well deserved”.

The baggy greens had not lost at home since 1992-93, when they were defeated by the West Indies.

They had seemed in a commanding position during the opening match of the current series, in Perth, before a stunning fight-back by South Africa saw the visitors chase down an unlikely second-inning target of 414.

Smith’s side came from behind equally strongly at the MCG, where they ended the second day at 198 for seven – nearly 200 runs behind their hosts.

But a ninth-wicket partnership of 180 between Duminy and Steyn helped turn the game around, and Steyn’s five-wicket haul in the second innings reduced Australia to just 247, leaving the visitors needing just 183 for victory.

 

Dravid will bounce back: Ganguly

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly Saturday expressed confidence that out-of-form Rahul Dravid will soon come up with a good knock.

‘Dravid is a great cricketer with a lot of maturity. It would be wrong to write him off,’ Ganguly told reporters at the Eden Gardens here.

‘One should not judge him (Dravid) on account of few failures. He is having a temporary loss of form and I’m sure he will come up with a big knock soon to silence his critics,’ Ganguly said after his first practice session since retiring from international cricket early last month.

Dravid has scored only 28 runs in his last five innings, prompting critics to demand his scalp.

Ganguly confirmed he would turn out for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Plate group semi-final.

The top two sides in plate group would play the super league alongside Elite group teams.

‘I’m eager to play for Bengal in the semi-finals. We are currently doing well in the group league stage and I’m sure we will qualify for the Super League,’ he said.

Ganguly condemned the Mumbai terror attacks but shied away from commenting on whether the Indian team should tour Pakistan.

‘It’s a heinous act and we must condemn the terrorists who are targeting innocent people.’

He hoped normalcy would return in India-Pakistan relations by the time the IPL starts in April next year. ‘IPL is still some months away. I hope normalcy returns by then.’