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Javagal Srinath’s lethal pace bowling in the second innings earned a memorable win for the Indian cricket team.
Sachin Tendulkar top scored for the men in blue in the India vs South Africa 1st Test in 1996. (Image: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
One of the most closely fought Test matches in the history of cricket came to an end on this day (November 23) in 1996 in Ahmedabad. India and South Africa were the two sides involved in that iconic Test.
It was India who eventually emerged victorious by a margin of 64 runs. Chasing a target of 170, the visiting unit could manage to reach 105 in the second innings. Javagal Srinath’s lethal pace bowling in the second innings earned a memorable win for the Indian cricket team. Srinath was also adjudged Player of the Match for claiming eight wickets across two innings in the Test series opener.
As Team India celebrates one of its most famous wins today, we take a look at the game and how the visitors clinched an epic victory on this day in Ahmedabad.
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Winning the toss, the then-India skipper Sachin Tendulkar decided to bat first. Tendulkar emerged as the highest scorer (42 off 64 deliveries) for his side in the first innings as India managed to reach 223. Tendulkar’s knock comprised seven boundaries.
Sanjay Manjrekar (34 off 94 balls) and Mohammad Azharuddin (35 off 79 deliveries) supported Sachin Tendulkar ably to help India breach the 200-run mark. Allan Doland claimed four wickets for South Africa in the first innings. The Proteas, in reply, registered a solid total of 244.
Fanie de Villiers came up with a terrific, unbeaten knock of 67 in the second innings to earn an upper hand for South Africa. Sunil Joshi was India’s star figure with the ball in the first innings having bagged four wickets.
India’s Test debutant VVS Laxman produced a solid half-century in the second innings. Laxman scored 51 runs off 125 balls in the second innings of his debut Test. Paul Adams and Alan Dolland picked up three wickets each for South Africa.
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Chasing a target of 170, South Africa endured a horrendous start to their second innings. While Andrew Hudson was dismissed for a duck, Gary Kirsten managed to add 20 runs to the scoreboard.
Skipper Hansie Cronje did offer a fightback with his unbeaten 48-run knock but it eventually turned out to be futile as the visitors fell short by 64 runs.
Indian pacer Javagal Srinath ran through the South African batting line-up having claimed six wickets in the second innings. Anil Kumble also rose to the occasion having bagged three wickets.
