India’s tour of South Africa: Graeme Smith gives credit to bowlers for Centurion victory
Graeme Smith, captain of team http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, has given credit to his bowlers for his team’s smashing victory against India in the first Test match of the series.
Smith particularly lauded http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn, who each took seven wickets in the match. The duo exerted a stranglehold on India’s first innings, as their consistent pressure upon a deteriorating pitch sent the Indian batsmen
to the pavilion for a mere 136 runs.
“But conditions were helpful to them,” said Smith of his bowlers’ performance on a damp pitch on the first day, adding: “The performance they put up in the second innings was very important. They had to show patience and keep trying,
which they did quite splendidly.” Indian captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028, who rued the absence of Zaheer Khan – out with a hamstring injury, believes South Africa’s choice to field first upon winning the toss was “a job half done." Of South Africa’s 484-run advantage in
the first innings, Dhoni said: "Our bowling has to improve, and we are looking forward to having him (Zaheer) back in the side."
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 were able to put up a valiant fight in their second innings, however, on a pitch that had changed considerably since the match has begun. Smith said Morkel and Steyn’s performance in this innings was crucial. “They had to
show patience and keep trying, which they did quite splendidly."
In their second innings, India made a total of 459 – an admirable effort, even if it proved not to be good enough to save the match. "[Mahendra Singh] Dhoni played really well yesterday and other batsmen also stuck it out," he
said. "It was important for us to keep bowling through sessions and remain focused for a longer period of time.”
The second Test match of the series will begin on December 26 in Durban.
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