Proteas demolish sorry India

Paul Harris topples over in delight at bowling Sachin Tendulkar, off thigh pad and arm, for 100 as South Africa closed on victory

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South Africa completed an innings-and-six-run victory over India with a day to spare in the first Test in Nagpur to take a crucial lead in the two-match series.

Following on after conceding a massive first-innings lead of 325, India were bowled out for 319 in their second knock despite a determined 100 from Sachin Tendulkar.

Spinner Paul Harris set up the victory with three wickets, including those of Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while Dale Steyn claimed two tail-end scalps to complete a match tally of 10-108 from 34.5 overs.

It was India’s first Test defeat since Dhoni was made captain 18 months ago and they now have to win the second game in Kolkata to retain their position at the top of the International Cricket Council rankings.

South Africa chipped away right through the day, despite a bright start from number Murali Vijay, who made 32, and Tendulkar in the morning.

Tendulkar set the pace in that third-wicket stand which eventually yielded 72, slashing boundaries in consecutive overs off Steyn – the first past point and the other square on the leg side - and driving Harris for a boundary in his first over.

Vijay played the supporting role to perfection at the other end, but perished when he attempted a sweep against Harris’ leg-stump line, skying a catch to Morne Morkel, who gleefully accepted on the square-leg boundary.

Debutant Subramaniam Badrinath, who had hit a half-century in the first innings, managed only six before he was caught behind off Wayne Parnell.

Dhoni and Tendulkar gave India a glimmer of hope with a battling partnership worth 70, ensuring no further wickets before lunch and carrying on nicely in the afternoon session.

Tendulkar advances towards his 46th Test century, but it was not enough to stave off an innings-and-six-run defeat

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Tendulkar, who was reprieved on 45 when Jacques Kallis failed to hold a low catch at first slip in the morning session, reached his 46th Test century off 177 deliveries with a single off Parnell.

But Harris, who had frustrated the pair with his line, struck almost immediately after, claiming the prize scalp of Tendulkar with a bizarre dismissal.

Tendulkar attempted a sweep but missed, the ball deflecting off the thigh pad onto his arm and crashing onto the stumps.

The spinner then did for Dhoni just before tea, an inside edge onto the pad snapped up by AB de Villiers at silly point.

South Africa needed only four more wickets for victory at that stage with India still 116 runs behind.

The end could have been swift had an appeal for a catch at silly point against Wriddhiman Saha, the other debutant in the home side’s line-up, who mustered 36, been upheld.

Saha held up one end as Harbhajan Singh chipped in with an entertaining cameo, whittling the lead down with a run-a-ball 39 against the second new ball.

Harbhajan was trapped in front by Parnell, but the tail continued to offer resistance as Zaheer Khan, with 33, and Saha added 59 for the eighth wicket, taking India past the 300-run mark.

But Zaheer mistimed a pull off Kallis and was held at mid-off before Steyn brought up victory by trapping Saha in front and bowling last man Amit Mishra.