Kanpur, Apr 13: In a series of swinging balance and fortunes, India finally managed to beat South Africa by 8 wickets to clinch the Kanpur Test and level the series square 1-1. An all round display right from the beginning of the third day saw India wrest the momentum from the Proteas. Nothing went right for Graeme Smith’s men as Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth frustrated the SA bowlers in the morning with their gritty batting display.

Chasing 62 runs for victory, Sehwag and Jaffer helped India off to a flying start. Sehwag in particular was the agressor of the two, managing two sixes of Paul Harris before being holed in the deep of the same bowler. India’s standing skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni surprised every one by sending Ganguly ahead of Dravid only to see the latter coming to crease four balls later. Dravid joined Ganguly after Jaffer was caught right infront of the wicket off a Morkel delivery. Ganguly and Dravid took India to the winning target.

Earlier, South Africa finally caved in to pressure created by Indian bowlers on a crumbling Kanpur pitch. In the end a score of 121 runs in the third innings ensured that India needed a target of just 62 runs to beat the touring side and level the series square. Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Sehwag all joined and kept the momentum in India’s favour after Sreesanth started the proceedings.

Earlier the day started with frustration for Proteas as Sharma and Sreesanth hanged in for a 46 run partnership which took India’s lead to over 50 runs.

However the star performer of the day was Bhajji. In 21 overs he bowled he gave away 43 runs at an economy of 2.04 is nothing great if one doesn’t mentions the four wicket which Harbhajan Singh took to help India give a serious chance of levelling the series. Not just Harbhajan but Ishant Sharma and Vireneder Sehwag also joined the party as wickets kept tumbling for South Africa much to the disappointment of coach Micky Arthur.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni seems to be enjoying every moment under the sun. Ishant Sharma who was given the ball ahead of Piyush Chawla rocked an already sinking Proteas boat by dismissing Boucher and Morkel on deliveries which seemed unplayable. Boucher nicked a delivery which came big after hitting the deck while Morkel had no clue of yorker fired at express pace by ‘Rajdhani Express.” Harbhajan brought India its eight wicket by sending Paul Harris before he could trouble the scorer.

It surely was India all the way at Kanpur’s Green Park after they sent half of Proteas side back to the pavilion around tea. Harbhajan Singh got rid of AB de Villiers moments after play resumed in the post tea session.

Earlier, man with the ‘golden arm’ Virender Sehwag provided India the momentum which might now turn the outcome of the match and series in India’s favour. Getting rid of Kallis first and then bowling Smith round his legs Sehwag proved how lethal he is. South Africa were left tottering at 72/4 following Sehwag’s magical deliveries.

Onus wrested on the last recognised pair of Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers to put some fight and give India some sort of a target. South Africa managed 88/4 when umpires called tea on the third day.

Just when it looked that Kallis-Smith partnership would turn it on for the Proteas, Sehwag came to India’s rescue. Kallis fending on a Sehwag delivery was out caught by Jaffer at forward short leg!! The skipper could not have asked more from him.

Shanta Sreesanth provided India the wicket which they needed the most. A ball which kept low and straightened after pitching caught Neil McKenzie right in front of the wicket only to see Asad Rauf raising the dreaded finger. Soon Hashim Amla got rid of Chennai centurion Hashim Amla for a duck. Trying to fend a turning snorter from the turbanator, Amla only managed to send the ball into the safe hands of Wasim Jaffer. Proteas lost two wickets for 27 runs as both the teams left for lunch.

Earlier in the day, the Indian lower order wagged to give India a lead of 60 runs much to the frustration of SA. Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth kept the African bowlers at bay before the latter was softly dismissed giving a straight forward catch to Ashwell Prince at short cover. Paul Harris was earlier unlucky after Billy Doctrove declined two close appeals, however, had the last laugh by getting Sreesanth’s wicket.

Ishant Sharma and S Sreesanth started proceedings on a cautious note, playing deliveries with a straight bat. Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn fired Yorkers at the two tail enders, but the duo remained defiant to raise India’s 300.

On Day 2, India failed to capitalise on the brilliant work done by Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman as they lost their way towards the end. A slender lead of 23 runs ensured that the tourists remained in the hunt after getting bundled out for 265 on the first day. Earlier, Laxman-Dravid partnership ensured that India recovered from early setbacks that saw Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag being dismissed cheaply.

South Africa 2nd innings: ND McKenzie lbw b Sreesanth 14, GC Smith b Sehwag 35, HM Amla c Jaffer b Harbhajan Singh 0, JH Kallis c Jaffer b Sehwag 15, AG Prince not out 22, AB de Villiers c Laxman b Harbhajan Singh 7, MV Boucher c Dhoni b Sharma 5, M Morkel b Sharma 0, PL Harris c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 0, DW Steyn b Harbhajan Singh 7, M Ntini c Ganguly b Sehwag 0, Extras (b 12, lb 1, w 1, nb 2) 16 Total: (all out; 55.5 overs; 259 mins) 121 (2.16 runs per over) FOW: 1-26, 2-27, 3-65, 4-72, 5-90, 6-101, 7-101, 8-102, 9-114, 10-121 Bowling: Harbhajan Singh 23-7-44-4, I Sharma 10-2-18-2, S Sreesanth 9-4-9-1, PP Chawla 4-0-18-0, V Sehwag 8.5-2-12, Yuvraj Singh 1-0-7-0

India 2nd innings: W Jaffer lbw b Morkel 10, V Sehwag c Prince b Harris 22, SC Ganguly not out 13, R Dravid not out 18 Extras: (nb 1) 1 Total: (2 wickets; 13.1 overs; 57 mins) 64 (4.86 runs per over) FOW: 1-32, 2-32 Bowling: DW Steyn 2-0-15-0, M Ntini 1-0-5-0, PL Harris 5.1-0-36-1, M Morkel 5-1-8-1

Dhoni happy with successful bowling changes

Kanpur: Elated after leading India to a series-equalling victory against South Africa, India's stand-in Test captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is particularly happy with the successful bowling changes he made today.

Skippering India in absence of regular Test captain Anil Kumble, Dhoni intelligently marshalled his bowlers and effected smart bowling changes to plot South Africa's peril.

"It was one of those days when everything worked in our favour. I made five changes (in the South Africa second innings) and got eight wickets," Dhoni said.

Dhoni sprang a surprise today by opening the attack with Harbhajan Singh and then cleverly rotated the bowlers not to allow the South African batsmen settle into a rhythm.

One instance was when he tossed the ball to Virender Sehwag and the part-time spinner removed Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis.

Dhoni admitted losing toss on this wicket pushed the hosts to the bakfoot but the team showed character to square the series.

"We were a slightly in the backfoot after losing the toss but everybody contributed to this win. It is a complete team effort," Dhoni said.

"Sourav Ganguly with fantastic with the bat and then (S) Sreesanth and Ishant (Sharma) played important knocks to stretch the first innings lead. And everybody who rolled arms got wickets. Bhajji bowled well throughout the series," he said.

Dhoni said it was a tough series with the conditions making it even tougher for both the sides.

"The heat and humidity made the series even tougher, but I'm happy with the result," he said.

Ganguly rates knock as one of his best

Kanpur: Saurav Ganguly said his 87 on Saturday was one of his best knocks and was hopeful it would lead India to victory against South Africa in the third and final test to square the series.

Ganguly top-scored on a deteriorating pitch to give India a 23-run first innings lead on the second day after the hosts reached 288 for nine at stumps.

"It is one of the best knocks I have played considering the surface, it is one of my top test knocks," the 35-year-old former skipper told reporters.

Ganguly was disappointed to miss his 16th test century after he was out at the same score for the second successive innings, holing out fast bowler Dale Steyn to deep cover to be the ninth wicket to fall.

He also top-scored in the second innings of the previous test in Ahmedabad last week which South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs to take a 1-0 series lead.

His crucial partnerships lifted the innings on a pitch where some deliveries exploded from the cracks.

"On this surface you never know what is going to happen," he said. "If the spinners bowl well and we get early wickets, we can bowl them out below 150."

Ganguly hoped the last wicket pair of Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma could somehow click.

"If Sree and Ishant can do some magic tomorrow it will be great," he said. "We should somehow get to a 50-run lead and pick up two wickets before they get to 50."

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said even a small total would be tough to chase for India in the fourth innings.

"There is always something happening on the wicket," he said. "It is a day five wicket on day two, not ideal for test cricket."

He praised his players for claiming five wickets in the final session to prevent India from taking a big lead.

"A lead of 20 runs is not that significant but we can`t let it get to 40 or 50," he said. "We must wrap it up and bat really well.

"Any total over 150 or 160 will be tough to chase."

He said South Africa would also have prepared a pitch that favoured them if they trailed in a home series like India do.

"In a funny sort of way, a wicket like this will provide a very exciting result."