Third Test, day three, Kanpur: India 325, 64-2 beat South Africa 265, 121 by eight wickets
India earned a thrilling eight-wicket victory within three days in the third and final Test against South Africa in Kanpur to level the series 1-1.
The home side dismissed the tourists for 121, with Harbhajan Singh (4-44) and Virender Sehwag (3-12) leading the attack on a vicious, turning pitch.
Only captain Graeme Smith (35) managed an innings of any genuine substance.
Set a target of 62 to win, India lost openers Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer, but Rahul Dravid hit the winning runs.
The victory ensures India maintain their position in second in the ICC Test rankings - as well as earn stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a memorable debut victory.
"It was a team effort. There were a couple of players who were above par, Harbhajan has been superb in the entire series and the part-timers also bowled well in this Test," said Dhoni.
 | India were clinical throughout and they deserved their victory SA captain Graeme Smith |
"It was a tough series and losing the toss put us on the back foot."
South Africa's prospects of setting the home side an intimidating fourth-innings target on a spiteful and demonic pitch were frustrated by a stubborn final-wicket partnership between Sree Santh and Ishant Sharma.
The fast bowlers yielded 37 priceless runs in the morning session to extend India's first innings lead, batting out 11 overs for a 60-run advantage.
"We were 30 runs short in the first innings, we lost our way with our batting," said Smith.
"And also India getting a lead like that, those were the two big swinging points in the Test match.
"We were also not as good with the ball as we had been in the series. We were a little bit too anxious to bowl India out."
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris eventually made the breakthrough when Santh was caught at short cover by Ashwell Prince for 29.
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