Top 5 bowling performances by Indians against South Africa in Tests

Zaheer Khan had a special liking for Graeme SmithSince South Africa’s re-admission to cricket in 1992, India has had a poor record against the Proteas and the biggest reason for the same is that India have come up short in the bowling department. One needs to take 20 wickets in order to win a match and given India’s dismal Test record against the Proteas, it is no surprise that great bowling performances by Indian bowlers against them have been few in number. Now, as the Indians prepare for the Mahatma Gandhi – Nelson Mandela trophy against South Africa, here is an attempt to look at some of the best bowling performances by Indians against the African nation.

#5 Venkatesh Prasad - 5/60 at Durban, 1996

Every Indian player apart from Prasad had a game to forget

This was a Test match that not only the Indian fans but the whole Indian team would also like to forget about. India managed to score only 166 runs in the entire match and eventually lost the match by 328 runs. But there was one Indian by the name Venkatesh Prasad who had a memorable outing in this otherwise one-sided contest.

Captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and invited the Proteas to bat on a lively Kingsmead pitch. Prasad not only made early inroads into the South African innings by dismissing their premier batsman Gary Kirsten, but also took wickets in the middle and then came back to finish the tail. It was due to his efforts and that of his opening partner Javagal Srinath that the Proteas were dismissed for 235 runs in the first innings. Prasad eventually finished with figures of 5/60.

#4 Harbhajan Singh - 7/87 at Kolkata, 2004

Some of Harbhajan Singh’s best ever performances have come at the Eden Gardens

Bowlers generally have a liking for certain grounds and I am sure the Eden Gardens would figure in Harbhajan Singh’s list of favorite grounds. Some of his best exploits have come at this iconic stadium in Kolkata. Against the South Africans in 2004, it looked like Bhajji was trying to remind the fans of his performance against the mighty Australians in 2001 (when he had taken 13 wickets in the match).

Heading into the final day the Proteas had a lead of 66 runs with five wickets in hand. But what followed next was the Bhajji show – he picked up 3 of the last 5 wickets and the South African innings folded with the addition of just 51 runs on the final day. These 3 wickets were in addition to the first 4 South African wickets that he had taken earlier. He finished with figures of 7/87 and India chased down the target of 117 runs with 8 wickets to spare.

#3 Anil Kumble - 6/53 at Johannesburg, 1992

Kumble’s 6-wicket haul at Johannesburg was a pleasant surprise

Back in the 1990s, Indian spinners seldom produced inspiring bowling spells outside the sub-continent. So, when an Indian spinner takes 6/53 in South Africa it definitely deserves a mention.

It was truly a determined bowling performance by India’s highest wicket-taker Anil Kumble. This was a typical Kumble spell where in he scuffled the batsman for runs and then took their wicket. Not a big turner of the cricket ball, he troubled the Proteas batsmen with his top-spin and googlies. Although the match ended in a draw mainly due to the defensive approach adopted by both the captains on the final day, Kumble’s spell had given the Indians a chance of victory.

#2 S Sreesanth - 5/40 at Johannesburg, 2006

Sreesanth’s 8-wicket haul in the Test earned him the Man of the Match award

If the South Africans are dismissed for a score of 84 at their home, then it has to be the result of some exceptional bowling and it indeed was one. Playing in only his 6th Test, S Sreesanth produced a spell which laid the foundations of India’s first victory on South African soil. Incidentally, this was South Africa’s lowest total in Test cricket since their re-admission to cricket in 1991-92.

India had managed to score 249 in the first innings largely due to an unbeaten 51 by former skipper Sourav Ganguly who was making a comeback into the team. It looked to be a formidable score but what followed ensured that it was a huge score. Sreesanth picked up 5 of the first 7 South Africans wicket to reduce them to 45 for 7.

In the second innings, Indians scored 236 runs to set the Proteas a target of 402 runs. Sreesanth again picked up 3 top order wickets and India went on to win the match by 123 runs. But it was Sreesanth’s spell of 5/40 which had set up this victory and it will always be remembered as one of the best spells of bowling by an Indian in South Africa.

#1 Javagal Srinath - 6/21 at Ahmedabad, 1996

Pitches in India have traditionally favoured the spinners and match-winning performances by fast bowlers on Indian soil have been few and far between. It is no surprise that this performance comes from one of India’s best genuine fast bowler Javagal Srinath. On a crumbling Motera wicket which was best suited for spinners, Srinath in a magical spell of fast bowling bundled the South Africans for 105 runs and as a result won the match for India.

With some gutsy batting from debutant VVS Laxman, India had managed to set the Proteas a target of 170 runs. Srinath took 2 South African wickets in the very first over and the score at the end of the first over read 0/2. From a score of 96/4, the Africans were bowled out for 105 runs and Srinath took 4 of the last 6 wickets to fall. It was a memorable match which had seen lots of twists and turns, but the match will always be remembered for Srinath’s devastating bowling spell.