South Africa vs India 2018: Top 5 Tests between South Africa and India

#4 South Africa vs India, Durban 2010

Laxman got 96 in the second innings to steer India out of trouble at Durban in 2010

Graeme Smith put India in to bat citing helpful bowling conditions at the Kingsmead and his bowlers did not disappoint. All batsmen up to number eight entered double figures but none crossed VVS Laxman’s 38. Dale Steyn got the top three of Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay and Rahul Dravid before accounting for Laxman, MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh to finish with 6/50 as all India could manage was a paltry 205.

But it was grim for South Africa as well when they came out to bat. Zaheer Khan got his bunny Smith early and Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla could not capitalize on good starts. Harbhajan got Amla and then cleaned up the tail in quick time as three South Africans were dismissed for a duck.

He took 4/10 and India a lead of 74. When India were 93/5 in the second innings, there was, as usual, Laxman hanging on to keep them at bay. He found Dhoni for company to stabilize things and then, just like at Johannesburg in 2006, added 70 for the eighth wicket with Zaheer. The last man to fall for 96, Laxman ensured South Africa had to chase 303.

Despite starting well, South Africa suffered once Smith departed for 37. Sreesanth rocked the hosts by claiming Jacques Kallis and Amla after Smith, and this time Harbhajan chose Petersen and AB de Villiers as his victims. Ashwell Prince briefly gave India a scare when he added 33 with Morne Morkel, but both Morkel and last man Lonwabo Tsotsobe were gone in the same over as South Africa crumbled for 215.

India 205 (Laxman 38, Dhoni 35; Steyn 6/50) and 228 (Laxman 96, Sehwag 32; Tsotsobe 3/43) beat South Africa 131 (Amla 33; Harbhajan 4/10, Zaheer 3/36) and 215 (Prince 39*, Smith 37; Sreesanth 3/45) by 87 runs