By Our Correspondent
Kolkata, 18/02/2010
Harbhajan Singh answered India's call with a mix of aggressive and patient, smart and persistent spin bowling, taking them to a series-equalling and innings win over South Africa. However, retaining the No. 1 spot in Tests wasn't easy for India: the last three wickets batted out 53.3 overs. The last pair denied India for 77 minutes but Harbhajan came back to trap Morne Morkel with just nine mandatory deliveries to go. Hashim Amla was difficult to dislodge, but India found a way around him, leaving him stranded - after 23 hours and 22 minutes of batting in the series, nine hours and 39 minutes in this innings.
Hashim Amla, who by tea had batted for 21 hours and 14 minutes in the series, and seven hours and 31 minutes in this innings, stood between India and a series-levelling win. Harbhajan Singh bowled exceptionally well in the two sessions, taking three wickets, but India still needed three more in what promised to be an exciting final session, with bad light likely to play a role. The play in the first two sessions could be divided into three clear sections. For nearly two hours in the morning, Amla and Ashwell Prince kept the bowlers out. For about 40 minutes before lunch and about 40 after it, Harbhajan was all over South Africa, and helped by Mishra's pre-break wicket, India came within three good balls of the win. For the next hour and 20 minutes, once again Amla and No. 9 Wayne Parnell negotiated the bowling without much trouble, beautifully setting up the rest of the day.
India may have woken up to a bright and sunny day, but they were down on luck in the personnel department, with Zaheer Khan off with an injured right knee. They didn't help themselves by some inexplicable field sets. The first over of the day, when Virender Sehwag bowled without a gully in place, may yet turn out to be a pivotal point in the match.