What made the verdict in the second Test at the Sardar Patel stadium in Motera all the more shameful was that India caved inside a mere three days without ever offering South Africa a meaningful fight.

South African skipper Graeme Smith's intentions were clear when he declared their innings closed at the overnight score of 494 for seven — try to bowl India out on a pitch that was moist after the overnight rain.
The massive 418-run lead helped Smith to maintain an attacking field for most part of the day, and the strategy paid handsome dividends as India were bundled out for 328 runs.

The result of the match was never in doubt once India were bowled out for a paltry 76 in their first innings. The lack of will to fight and an all-round lethargy marked India's performance here. The intensity they had displayed in Australia not so long ago was conspicuous by its absence and the defeat will certainly force the team management and the bigwigs for a rethink on many aspects.

The only bright moment for the hosts on the third day came when Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were involved in a 110-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

The former Indian skipper came into this match with a lot at stake, and like on numerous occasions in the past, he came up with an effort that was clad in steel. It was a pity that his superb 87 only helped to delay the inevitable.

Coming into this match, Ganguly was not in his best form, but the huge task in front of him and an aggressive bunch of South African bowlers did not curb him. The Kolkatan judged the situation to perfection, and eschewed his usual flair, concentrating more on survival.

The sight of Ganguly walking in after the fall of Wasim Jaffer did not evoke a great deal of confidence, but he signalled his determination from the beginning.

He covered the line of the ball beautifully, and negated the pace and bounce generated by the bowlers comfortably. Ganguly neutralised South Africa's battering ram – Dale Steyn – showing a wonderful awareness of off-stump, but that old weakness came back to haunt him at the most inappropriate time.

Steyn rocket

He played away from the body without moving his feet much, and the Steyn rocket took the edge of his bat on the way to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. Dhoni, at the other end, lived dangerously, and he exploited the reprieves to notch up a fifty. It was his first half-century in 11 innings.

But the effort was too little to make any real impact on the game, and Ntini ended the Jharkhand player's edgy stay at the crease, when he squared him up with quicker one. At first slip, Smith cupped his hands to a low offering.

The dismissals of Ganguly and Dhoni ended the Indian resistance and allowed the Proteas’ bowlers to have a peep at the lower-order.

Inevitable

But before the inevitable struck, Virender Sehwag gave Indians an extraordinary start, hitting Steyn for two sixes in the very first over over fine leg. The towering shots raised visions of another Sehwag blitzkreig, but Ntini soon trapped him in front of the wicket to end those hopes.

Rahul Dravid looked in complete control. However, Morne Morkel cut short his stay with a delivery that bounced from a good length. Dravid was late to react and the edge was taken by man of the match AB de Villiers with ease at third slip.

VVS Laxman was at his silken best for a while, but the Hyderabadi too was guilty of playing away from the body. He snicked Morkel to Boucher behind the wicket. Like Laxman, most of the Indian batsmen looked in good fettle while they lasted in the middle, but their effort was like trying to stop a powerful current with a wooden dam.

Score Board

INDIA (I Innings): 76 all out
S AFRICA (I Innings): 494/7 decl

INDIA (II Innings):
Sehwag lbw Ntini 17
(32m, 20b, 1x4, 2x6)
Jaffer c de Villiers b Kallis 19
(97m, 53b, 2x4, 1x5)
Dravid c de Villiers b Morkel 17
(55m, 41b, 2x4)
Laxman c Boucher b Morkel 35
(77m 45b, 6x4)
Ganguly c Boucher b Steyn 87
(229m, 149b, 8x4)
Dhoni c Smith b Ntini 52
(200m, 122b, 5x4)
Pathan (not out) 43
(123m, 77b, 4x4, 1x6)
Kumble b Harris 5
(12m, 12b, 1x4)
Harbhajan lbw Steyn 4
(23m, 18b)
RP Singh c Kallis b Steyn 8
(23m, 11b, 2x4)
Sreesanth b Ntini 17
(19m, 12b, 2x4, 1x6)

Extras (B-5, LB-7, NB-5, W-7) 24
Total (all out in 94.2 overs) 328
Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Sehwag), 2-64 (Dravid), 3-70 (Jaffer), 4-125 (Laxman), 5-235 (Ganguly), 6-268 (Dhoni), 7-273 (Kumble), 8-292 (Harbhajan), 9-306 (RP Singh).
Bowling: Steyn 23-1-91-3 (w-6), Ntini 16.2-3-44-3, Morkel 20-0-87-2 (nb-5, w-1), Kallis 10-3-26-1, Harris 25-4-68-1.