South Africa v India - Third Test

Centurion Park

SAF: BA Richards, *TL Goddard, EAB Rowan, RG Pollock, AD Nourse, JN Rhodes, +JHB Waite, MJ Procter, NBF Mann, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.
IND: *SM Gavaskar, NS Sidhu, PR Umrigar, GR Viswanath, M Azharuddin, +FM Engineer, Kapil Dev, DG Phadkar, M Prabhakar, BS Bedi, BS Chandrasekhar.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: CJ Mitchley & DL Orchard
Toss: South Africa

After the scathing criticism of the playing surface in Durban, it was hardly surprising to find that a seemingly perfect batting strip had been produced for the series decider here, and once Trevor Goddard won a crucial toss South Africa set about establishing a commanding position in the match.

Goddard himself continued his wretched series with the bat, edging Kapil Dev behind for 2, but Richards was dominant, adding 108 with Rowan (33) and 85 with Pollock before finally being stumped off Chandrasekhar for an imperious 150, made off just 183 balls. The Springboks were 212-3 at this stage, and after Pollock and Nourse (26) put on a further 71 for the fourth wicket, Jonty Rhodes joined Pollock for a partnership that would just about put India out of the game.

Pollock was not at his flowing best but reached his century nonetheless, his thirteenth in ATG Tests, and Rhodes completed his maiden ATG century on the second afternoon as the pair posted a stand of 151 for the fifth wicket; Rhodes' position in the side was under great debate before this match, but it would now seem that he has booked a place on South Africa's upcoming tour of the West Indies.

Pollock eventually fell for 146, but Rhodes was unbeaten on 115 when Goddard declared midway through the second afternoon, South Africa having racked up an imposing 532-8, their third highest total in ATG Tests. Gavaskar and Sidhu's second century opening stand of the series got India's reply off to a good start, but both fell in quick succession as South Africa snared three wickets before lunch on day three, and the tourists' innings stuttered thereafter as the Springboks' bowlers, led by Mike Procter, made regular breakthroughs.

Umrigar's first fifty of the series was a positive knock, and 64 from Kapil Dev - who had been dropped on 5 by Rowan - enlivened proceedings later on, but a total of 307 was not enough to avoid following-on, and with four and a half sessions of the match still remaining, India had it all to do. Attack seemed to be the best form of defence for the tourists though, and after Sidhu fell lbw to Goddard for a streaky 25, Gavaskar and Umrigar plundered 23 from one Neil Adcock over, an ATG record, Umrigar striking four consecutive boundaries from the final four deliveries.

As in the first innings though, three quick wickets halted India's progress, and with Viswanath and Azharuddin both departing for ducks, 97-1 became 114-4 and South Africa were back on top. India still trailed by 111 at this stage, but Engineer now became a resolute partner for Umrigar, helping take India to the close without further loss, and with rain washing out all but five overs of the fifth morning, the tourists now had a more than even chance of saving the match.

That they were in such a position was almost solely down to Polly Umrigar, who was playing one of the great innings. He reached his century with his seventeenth boundary, and when he was finally out for 130 (162 balls, 20x4), he was afforded a standing ovation as he made his way back to the pavilion. 110 had been added with Engineer, but at 224-5 India still trailed by 1 run and there was much more work to be done. More rain took a further half hour out of the equation, but with both Engineer (28) and Phadkar (1) departing before tea, India entered the final session on 254-7, leading by just 29 and about to face the new ball.

Procter and Donald steamed in, and for the second time in the series a sickening blow on the head courtesy of Allan Donald sent an Indian to hospital, Manoj Prabhakar the unfortunate victim on this occasion. Kapil Dev's response was to fight fire with fire though, and his second fifty of the match, coupled with Bedi's highest ever ATG innings (28), took India to safety as South Africa's tiring attack was unable to deliver the final blow.

India had thus secured a highly creditable draw in both the match and the series, a result that denied South Africa the chance to take over the outright number one position in the world rankings. That opportunity now goes to England, whose upcoming tour of New Zealand could see them finally oust Australia from the top spot ahead of next season's Ashes series.

Scores
SAF 1st Inns 532-8 dec. (Richards 150, Pollock 146, Rhodes 115*)
IND 1st Inns 307 (Kapil Dev 64, Sidhu 63, Umrigar 59, Gavaskar 46, Azharuddin 43; Procter 5-88)
IND 2nd Inns 347-8 (Umrigar 130, Kapil Dev 75*, Gavaskar 40; Goddard 4-54)

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: PR Umrigar