South Africa vs India 2018: The famous Cape Town Test of 2011

The match: 3rd Test, India tour of South Africa at Cape Town, Jan 2-6 2011

India toured South Africa in the last month of 2010 for a full tour that comprised of 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and a T20 international. India started the tour on a low after a crushing defeat by an inning and 25 runs against the hosts in the 1st Test at the Centurion. It was the fierce bowling duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel that was hard to be tackled by the Indian batsmen.

In the 2nd Test of the series, though the Indian batting didn't look improved, it was the bowling unit that led India through. India won the match by 87 runs on the back of a collective bowling effort by Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan, Sreesanth, and Ishant Sharma. The win boosted India's confidence and the series was leveled at 1-1, naturally making the 3rd and the last Test interesting.

The series decider began on the 2nd day of the year later, in which India had to win the World Cup. India won the much important toss and quite decisively, captain M.S Dhoni chose to field first. This was the first time India had won the toss on the tour. Earlier in both Tests, South Africa captain Graeme Smith had chosen to field, putting India into bat on the first days.

South Africa lost two early wickets in the morning session, but Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers showed a little resistance to the Indian pace trio of Zaheer, Sreesanth, and Ishant. After the wicket of Ashwell Prince who scored 47 in 100 deliveries, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals while Jacques Kallis was steady at the other end.

Kallis scored a well fought century, with 161 in 291 balls. Post Lunch on the second day, South Africa's innings came to an end after Kallis edged Zaheer Khan and was caught behind by Dhoni. South Africa was all out for 362 in the first inning.

India lost the wickets of Sehwag and Rahul Dravid cheaply and Sachin Tendulkar walked in to bat with Gambhir on the other end. Both the batsman picked the bowls quite beautifully and stayed steady until the day ended.

The first session of the 3rd day was the most difficult and an important one, with the ball moving laterally. Sachin and Gambhir saw India through the morning session and shared a 150 run stand among themselves. No wicket had fallen in close to 60 overs before Gambhir was caught behind off Harris.

Soon, India's middle batting order failed and India started losing wickets at regular intervals against the fierce bowling of Dale Steyn. While Sachin was steady on one end, only Harbhajan Singh showed some resistance among other Indian batsmen. Post tea, India's batting collapsed to 364 all-out, 2 runs ahead of South Africa's first innings total. Sachin scored a brilliant 146 of 314 balls. This is regarded as one of his best knocks in Test cricket.

In the 2nd innings, South Africa batting looked good but Harbhajan Singh strike and 2 wickets fell in space of 3 overs. The third day ended with South Africa on 52/2. In the morning session of the fourth day, Harbhajan spun the web early and got the wickets of Petersen and Amla reducing South Africa to 64/4.

It was Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher who revived the innings but the hosts kept losing the wickets at regular intervals after Boucher fell. It was Kallis who fought till the end and returned not out on 109 after playing 240 balls. South Africa ended up scoring 341 in the 2nd innings giving a target of 340 to the visitors.

Though the target of 340 was challenging, with India having a whole day of play, it could have well been chased. But against the fierce bowling attack of South Africa, India chose to defend the match rather than taking the risk involved in winning.

Gambhir faced 184 balls and scored just 64 runs, while Rahul Dravid scored 31 runs facing 112 deliveries. Sachin Tendulkar scored 14 off 91 balls with Laxman who ended with 32 off 67 balls. The Indian batsmen showed great patience against South Africans who were looking for wickets now and then but with little success.

It was Sachin's and Gambhir's knocks in the first innings and a patient innings by all the batsmen in the second innings that played a crucial part in India drawing the match. India ended the day on 116/3 in 82 overs, drawing the match and the series successfully.