South Africa vs India at Cape Town – Third day

JH Kallis’s 161 in this test represent his 20^th hundred at home. He became the fourth batsman in the annals of test cricket to score 20 plus half centuries. Others are – SR Tendulkar {22} : ML Hayden {21} and RT Ponting {21}

G Gambhir and SR Tendulkar added 176 runs for the third wicket in this test providing the second occasion of a 150 plus runs partnership by Indian batsman against South Africa at Cape Town. The first occasion was the 153 runs stand between W Jaffer and KRD Karthik in Jan 2007. Thus G Gambhir and SR Tendulkar stand of 176 runs stand in this test represent the record stand by Indian batsmen against South Africa at Cape Town.

G Gambhir was dismissed for 93 in this test providing the fifth occasion of an Indian batsman dismissed in nineties against South Africa. Others are – 97 by SR Tendulkar at Mumbai in Feb 2000 : 96 by G Gambhir at Kanpur in Nov 2004 : 90 by MS Dhoni at Centurion in Dec 2010 and 96 by VVS Laxman at Durban in Dec 2010

G Gambhir became the only batsmen to be dismissed in nineties on two occasions in India-South Africa test series – 96 at Kanpur in Nov 2004 and 93 at Cape Town in Jan 2007

It is interesting to note that in each of the three test of this series, an Indian batsman has been dismissed in nineties – First Test – 90 by MS Dhoni at Centurion in Dec 2010 : Second Test – 96 by VVS Laxman at Durban in Dec 2010 and third test – 93 by G Gambhir at Cape Town in Jan 2007.

G Gambhir’s 93 in this test provide the 98^th occasion of Indian batsman scoring ninety in a test innings. His knock represents the 36^th occasion of an Indian opening batsman scoring a ninety in a test innings.

G Gambhir’s 93 in this test represent his fourth ninety as an opening batsman. He became the fourth Indian opening batsman to score four or more nineties. Others are – SM Gavaskar {05} : V Sehwag {05} and NS Sidhu {04}.

VVS Laxman’s run out for 15 in this test providing the 20^th occasion of an Indian batsman dismissed run out against South Africa.

R Dravid and VVS Laxman were run out in India’s innings providing the fifth occasion of two Indian batsmen dismissed in an innings against South Africa. The other four occasions are – at Durban in Nov 1992 {02 batsmen} : at Kolkata in Nov 1996 {three batsmen} : at Cape Town in Jan 1997 {02 batsmen} and at Cape Town in Jan 2007 {two batsmen}

SR Tendulkar scored his 51^st test hundred when he made 146 in this test. This knock represents his seventh test hundred against South Africa. He earned the distinction of becoming the fourth batsman to score seven or more test hundreds against South Africa. Others are – RN Harvey of Australia {08} : RT Ponting of Australia {08} and DCS Compton of England {07}

SR Tendulkar’s seven hundreds against South Africa provide the 47^th occasion of a batsman scoring seven or more hundreds against a specific opposition in the annals of test cricket.

SR Tendulkar’s seven hundreds against South Africa earned him another distinction. He became the only batsman in the annals of test cricket to score seven or more hundreds against four specific oppositions – vs Australia {11} ; vs Sri Lanka {09} : vs England {07} and vs South Africa {07}.

SR Tendulkar wrested the record from RT Ponting who has scored seven or more hundreds against three oppositions – vs England {08} : vs South Africa {08} and vs West Indies {07}

DW Steyn captured his 50^th wicket against India when he took the wicket of Indian captain MS Dhoni caught by AG Prince for zero in this test. He became the third South African bowler to capture 50 plus wickets are – AA Donald {57} and SM Pollock {52}

MS Dhoni’s duck in this test provide the 51^st occasion of an Indian captain scoring a duck in a test innings against various oppositions, It was the second zero scored by MS Dhoni while leading India, the first was against England at Mohali in Dec 2008

MS Dhoni’s duck in this test provide the 32^nd occasion of a captain-cum-wicket keeper scoring a duck in the annals of test cricket.

MS Dhoni’s duck in this test provide the 63^rd occasion of an Indian wicket keeper scoring a duck against various opppositons.

MS Dhoni’s duck in this test provide the third occasion of an Indian wicket keeper scoring a duck aagainst South Africa. Others are – KS More at Cape Town in Jan 1993 and NR Mongia at Mumbai in Feb 2000.

MS Dhoni with his duck in this test became the second Indian captain to score a duck against South Africa. A Kumble was the other captain – He scored a duck at Ahmedabad in Apr 2009.

SR Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh were concerned in a record stand for the seventh wicket by Indian batsman against South Africa at Cape Town. They added 76 runs. Previous record was 75 runs between SR Tendulkar and N Kapil Dev in Jan 1993. In fact these two partnerships are the two fifty plus runs for the seventh wicket by Indian batsmen against South Africa at Cape Town.

SR Tendulkar was bowled for 145 by M Morkel providing the 46^th occasion of his being dismissed bowled. Only AR Border of Australia has been dismissed bowled on more occasions than SR Tendulkar. He has been bowled on 53 occasions.

DW Steyn returned with figures of five for 75 in this test providing the 14^th occasion of a South African bowler capturing five or more wickets in an innings against India. DW Steyn’s five for 75 in this test provide the fourth occasion of his capturing five or more wickets in an innings against India. His four
five wickets innings haul is a record for most five wickets haul by a South African bowler against India. He wrested the record from AA Donald who had three five wickets innings haul against India.

DW Steyn with his 5 for 75 in this test became the first South African bowler to capture five wickets against India at Cape Town. Previous best was his own 4 for 30 in Jan 2007

DW Steyn’s 5 for 75 in this test represents his 16^th five wicket innings haul of his test career. He is on par with SM Pollock who has also captured 16 five wickets innings hauls.

AA Donald {20} and M Ntini {18} are the other two bowlers who have captured more five wickets innings hauls than DW Steyn and SM Pollock

M Morkel returned with figures of 2 for 106 in this test providing the 17^th occasion of a South African bowler conceding 100 plus runs in an innings against India. It is the second occasion for M Morkel to concede 100 plus runs – the first being his 2 for 115 at Kolkata in Feb 2010.

India gained a lead of two runs over South Africa in this test – South Africa – 362 and India 364.

GC Smith was dismissed leg before wicket in this innings providing the 36^th occasion of his being dismissed leg before wicket in a test innings

GC Smith has been dismissed leg before wicket in both innings of this test providing the 45^th occasion of a South African batsman dismissed leg before wicket in both innings of a test match.

GC Smith has been dismissed leg before wicket in both innings of a test on four occasion which is a record for South African batsman dismissed in such a manner.