All posts by h716a5.icu

Mushfiqur Rahim has been retained as Bangladesh captain for the Asia Cup, starting March 11 in Mirpur. This comes a day after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 14-member squad for the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2012Bangladesh squad for Asia Cup

Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Imrul Kayes, Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Haque
Reserves: Tamim Iqbal, Shuvagata Hom, Farhad Reza, Enamul Haque, Abul Hasan
In: Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Haque
Out: Alok Kapali, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shahriar Nafees

Mushfiqur Rahim has been retained as Bangladesh captain for the Asia Cup, starting March 11 in Mirpur*. This comes a day after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 14-member squad for the tournament.The demotion of opening batsman Tamim Iqbal to the reserves and the inclusion of allrounder Mashrafe Mortaza are among a host of changes in the squad. Bangladesh’s selectors have dropped four of the 15 players who were part of the home ODI series against Pakistan in December 2011, demoted two to reserve status, and called up five. They also continued to not pick Mohammad Ashraful.The chief selector Akram Khan, however, said that dropping Tamim was not the panel’s decision but that of the Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal. “Tamim Iqbal was dropped by Mustafa Kamal,” he told . “He was in the team that we submitted [for approval].”The selectors had received favourable fitness reports on both Mortaza and Tamim ahead of their meeting to pick the Asia Cup squad. Mortaza had led Dhaka Gladiators to victory in the inaugural season of the BPL, but Tamim played only two games for Chittagong Kings because of a groin injury.The five players called up to the squad were batsman Nazimuddin, wicketkeeper batsmen Jahurul Islam and Anamul Haque, Mortaza, and fast bowler Shahadat Hossain. Anamul, 19, is the only uncapped player in the squad.Alok Kapali and Shahriar Nafees, allrounder Naeem Islam and medium-pacer Rubel Hossain were dropped from the squad that played Pakistan. Tamim and medium-pace allrounder Farhad Reza, who were also part of the Pakistan series, were among the reserves for the Asia Cup.*March 6,14.30 GMT – This story was amended when the BCB announced that Mushfiqur had been named captain

Australia A surged to a 90-run win over Zimbabwe XI in the opening match of the A Team Tri-Series on a bright, sunny day at Harare Sports Club

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2011
Scorecard
Australia A surged to a 90-run win over Zimbabwe XI in the opening match of the A Team Tri-Series on a bright, sunny day at Harare Sports Club. Half-centuries from Nic Maddinson and Callum Ferguson carried the Australians to 232 for 8 and Zimbabwe XI reached 94 for 1 in reply before offspinner Nathan Lyon’s introduction prompted a dramatic collapse. John Hastings scythed through the lower order and Zimbabwe XI slumped to 142 all out with 11 overs remaining, much to the disappointment of the spectators who had been tempted in by the prospect of free entrance to the game.The Zimbabweans had put in a far more spirited performance with the ball than they did with the bat, seamer Chris Mpofu leading the way in a tight seven-over opening spell that yielded the wickets of openers David Warner and Aaron Finch. Australia A were 33 for 2 with Finch’s dismissal, but recovered through a 98-run stand – the highest of the match – between Maddinson and Ferguson as Zimbabwe’s spinners uncharacteristically failed to exert any pressure.Zimbabwe got the breakthrough when Maddinson was tempted out of his crease by Prosper Utseya’s flight and stumped for 63, and Mpofu then returned the attack to have Ferguson caught behind shortly after bringing up his fifty for this third wicket. The Zimbabweans continued to chip away at the lower order, and with runs not easy to come by on a spongy, early-season wicket Australia A were thankful for captain Tim Paine’s unbeaten 37, which ensured a competitive total.In the event, it was more than enough. Brendan Taylor started well but chipped a return catch back to Luke Butterworth to be out for 17 in his first match as captain. It still looked as though Zimbabwe XI would make a fist of their chase in the course of Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza’s patient 62-run partnership for the second wicket, but Lyon struck in his first over, removing Sibanda for 37, and from then on Australia A never lost their grip.Lyon took the heart out of the middle order with the wickets of Regis Chakabva, for an eight-ball duck, and Craig Ervine, and Hastings then put paid to Zimbabwe XI’s hopes of salvaging the innings in the space of four deliveries. After a frugal first spell, Hastings was brought back on and removed former national captain Elton Chigumbura and Forster Mutizwa with consecutive deliveries.Utseya survived the hat-trick ball but was pinned in front of his stumps immediately afterwards to give Hastings his third wicket of the over and reduce Zimbabwe XI to 122 for 7. Masakadza brought up a fighting half-century but Lyon returned to get rid of allrounder Keegan Meth for his fourth wicket, and the win was quickly wrapped up thereafter.Australia A, who face South Africa A at the same venue on Thursday, picked up a bonus point to take their tally for the match to 5, while Zimbabwe XI remain pointless.

Several of India’s batting heavyweights helped themselves to half-centuries as the home side got halfway to West Indies’ 590

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran24-Nov-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Darren Sammy removed Virender Sehwag for the third time in the series•AFPFor the third day in a row, the batsmen had an easy time at the Wankhede Stadium. Several of India’s batting heavyweights helped themselves to half-centuries as the home side got halfway to West Indies’ 590. Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid didn’t make it to triple figures, but Sachin Tendulkar was well on his way towards reaching the most talked-about milestone of the year.West Indies didn’t declare overnight, allowing their final pair to bat on, and after 15 minutes of entertaining tail-ender swings, Devendra Bishoo was bowled by offspinner R Ashwin, who completed his second five-wicket haul in his debut series.A typically quick start followed from India’s openers: Virender Sehwag routinely scything the ball through cover, and Gambhir poking the ball either side of point for runs. Gambhir was a touch loose to start with – chasing and missing several wide deliveries and surviving an early lbw appeal off Fidel Edwards – before getting more fluent.Edwards and Ravi Rampaul bowled with aggression but there wasn’t much extra bounce or sideways movement to encourage them. West Indies resorted to a defensive field half an hour into the innings – seven fielders on the off side, with two of them in the deep in front of point.It was the least pacy of the West Indian quicks, Darren Sammy, who snapped the opening stand at 67. He got one to slide past Sehwag’s inside-edge and hit the stumps, signalling with three fingers that it was the third time he had dismissed Sehwag in the series.The tempo was predictably slower after Sehwag’s exit, and West Indies could have added to the advantage after lunch. Dravid seemed to have hurt his back after slipping when Gambhir turned down a single. Gambhir had a reprieve when he guided Sammy towards first slip, where Kirk Edwards made a lazy attempt at a catch, barely getting a finger on the ball.Smart stats

Virender Sehwag moved to joint-second position with Brian Lara and Jacques Kallis on the list of Test batsmen with the most sixes. He now has 88 sixes and is second only to Adam Gilchrist, who has 100 sixes.

Rahul Dravid became the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the 13000-run mark in Tests. He has now scored 13061 runs at an average of 53.31. Dravid is the fastest to the mark in terms of matches (160) but Tendulkar got there in 11 fewer innings.

Dravid also passed 1000 runs in a calendar year for the third time in his career. Among Indian batsmen, only Sachin Tendulkar (6) and Sunil Gavaskar (4) have done so more times than Dravid.

Gautam Gambhir scored his second consecutive half-century of the series and went past the 3500-run mark in his 44th Test.

Tendulkar’s half-century is his 63rd in Tests bringing him level with Allan Border on the list of batsmen with the most Test half-centuries.

Dravid, who scored his 62nd half-century, was involved in his 48th fifty-plus stand with Tendulkar. This is the highest for any batting pair in Tests.

Dravid’s half-century is his 13th against West Indies. He now has 18 fifty-plus scores against them, which is second only to Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of 20.

R Ashwin’s 5 for 156 is his second five-wicket haul in Tests. The 156 runs conceded by Ashwin is sixth on the list of most runs conceded by an Indian bowler in an innings against West Indies while picking up five or more wickets.

After those close calls, Gambhir and Dravid were more solid against the West Indian quicks. Dravid reached 13,000 runs by classically driving a half-volley for four, while Gambhir’s increasing confidence was on display as he launched one over midwicket to reach his half-century. With Bishoo off the field for half the post-lunch session, getting his injured knee attended to, Dravid feasted on Marlon Samuels’ gentle offbreaks, crashing him through covers for successive fours.Both batsmen were set, and the track was still a shirtfront, but West Indies managed to wheedle out a wicket, when Rampaul banged in a bouncer that Gambhir threw his bat at. The ball flew through to the keeper, and though the Snickometer showed nothing, the umpire was convinced there was an edge.The crowd wasn’t too disappointed since it brought in Sachin Tendulkar, continuing his quest for the century that has eluded him since March. Tendulkar used his feet well against the spinners right from the start, and quickly progressed to 20. After tea, the crowd had more to cheer as he upper-cut Fidel Edwards into the stands beyond third man. It was a shot he repeated against a quicker one from Samuels, getting four for his effort.Dravid, meanwhile, worked his way to 1000 runs for the year, and his half-century soon after. He showed his presence of mind off the final delivery before tea: after he defended the ball, it spun alarmingly back towards the stumps, but he reacted just in time, booting the ball away when the it was inches away from the wickets.His sixth hundred of 2011 – his personal-best for a calendar year – seemed inevitable as he soldiered on untroubled after tea, jumping down the track to power Bishoo over mid-on before powerfully square-cutting Edwards for another boundary. He coaxed the ball past mid-off to move into the eighties, but was dismissed off the next delivery, top-edging on to the stumps.Tendulkar carried on, unfurling several stylish boundaries to march past 50, a landmark that was greeted by his home ground with expected boisterousness. VVS Laxman also joined in the fun, showing off the wristy whips to midwicket that make him such a delight to watch. Both had a moment of worry each: Laxman top-edging towards a vacant point region, and Tendulkar surviving on 58 as Cartlon Baugh put down a regulation outside edge.Those two wickets would have swung the match in West Indies’ favour. Instead, with only 13 wickets toppled in three days, and the track showing little signs of degenerating, it remains an even game with chances of an outright result receding.

Australia’s most-recently dumped Test spinner, Xavier Doherty, believes the selectors should give slow bowlers more time to establish themselves in the five-day side

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2011Australia’s most-recently dumped Test spinner, Xavier Doherty, believes the selectors should give slow bowlers more time to establish themselves in the five-day side. Doherty was surprisingly picked ahead of Nathan Hauritz for the opening Ashes Test last summer but was dropped after two matches and is now viewed as a one-day specialist.The Western Australia left-armer, Michael Beer, is the incumbent but has played only one Test and will face pressure from the offspinner Nathan Lyon during the tour of Sri Lanka. Over the past few years, Jason Krejza was cut after two Tests, and Bryce McGain and Beau Casson after one each, and Doherty said it was a tough ask for spinners to prove themselves so quickly.”It’s obviously exciting because there’s plenty of chances around, plenty of guys are getting a go at it,” Doherty told AAP. “On that part of it there’s obviously some positives there but looking back, the guys that have had those chances have only really had one, two or a handful of Tests to strut their stuff. In an ideal world you’d probably want a little bit longer than that to find your feet.”It’s an art that’s quite tough, particularly in Australia, you don’t always get the conditions you want all the time. There is obviously a lot of positives being a spinner at the moment but there’s also quite a bit of pressure that comes with it. The message probably is you’ve got to find your feet quicker than normal because they’re really after someone to nail that spot.”With Hauritz still recovering from a serious shoulder injury, Doherty is the first-choice slow bowler during the one-day series in Sri Lanka. Although he has slipped out of the Test reckoning, Doherty is confident that should another opportunity present itself in the longer format, he would be ready to take it with both hands.”I felt like I finished off the Shield season pretty well and I’ve got my chance here to bowl well again,” he said. “My destiny’s really in my own hands to be honest. I’ve got this series to do well and I feel like I’m bowling really well and I’ve prepared as well as I can. I think I’m ready to go and if another opportunity presents itself down the track then I’ll make sure I’m ready if that comes along.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez this summer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rising star

A graduate of the famous La Masia academy in Catalonia, Gonzalez has amassed 78 appearances across all levels for the Spanish giants.

Following a La Liga debut under Ronald Koeman in a 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad, the 20-year-old has made 37 outings for the senior side and has quickly become a regular feature under club legend Xavi.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-6/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, despite an apparent emergence into the big time, the Spanish sensation could be set to depart the Camp Nou already…

The latest: Wanderers ‘very interested’

As per Sport, translated by SW, Wolves are believed to be ‘very interested’ in the three-cap Spanish Under 21 starlet.

It’s claimed that there is uncertainty about Gonzalez’s future in Spain as the club holds an ‘internal debate’ on whether or not to cash in this summer.

The report states that super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has close connections with Molineux, is involved in the dealings for the midfielder hailed by Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta as possessing ‘brutal talent’.

The verdict: Star signing

So far this season, Gonzalez has scored twice and provided two assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Barca, earning a stylistic comparison to the likes of Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham, Manchester City ace Bernado Silva and highly-rated Barcelona teammate Pedri (FBref).

Predominantly operating as a box-to-box central midfielder, the Spaniard can also play in a deeper-lying role as well as in wide positions, levels of versatility that would be a welcome addition to Bruno Lage’s squad.

Whilst the future of Ruben Neves remains in the balance amidst interest from Barcelona and beyond, Wolves should certainly remain attentive to the possibility of signing Gonzalez regardless.

In other news, Wolves have been backed to sign a Premier League attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.

Rahul Dravid may have played 150 Tests in a career spanning 15 years, but admits he still feels the pressure to contribute to the team

Sriram Veera in Kingston18-Jun-2011Rahul Dravid may have played 150 Tests in a career spanning 15 years, but admits he still feels the pressure to contribute to the team. The Tests in West Indies will be Dravid’s first series since the trip to South Africa in December-January and he said it had been a challenge to maintain intensity during the down time.”I am relaxed, but there is always a pressure to go and score runs, irrespective of who you are,” Dravid said after his first training session at Sabina Park. “You want to make a contribution, but you know that there is a lot [that] you have accomplished, a lot that you have already done, which cannot be taken away from you. So I do relax more with regard to that part of the game.”But when I go into a game, I am still nervous. That never changes, whether I am playing my first game or my 151st game. The reason that I continue playing is because I love the contest and love the vibes. I am still enjoying the game.”Dravid is not part of India’s limited-overs set up anymore and said that, while it was challenge to maintain focus during the gaps between Tests, he was well-prepared for the upcoming series. “It has been five-six months that we played a Test match,” he said. “There has been a bit of IPL in between. It’s a challenge to keep it going but the good thing from my point of view is that we have got seven Test matches in a row now (three in West Indies and four in England), once we start on June 20.”That was at the back of my mind as I was preparing for this series and England. It will be good to get some runs early on and hopefully carry the form in the seven games.”Dravid averages 70 in the Caribbean, with 1260 runs from 14 Tests, and has scored two centuries and ten half-centuries. This is his fourth tour of the West Indies. He averages 55.60 with three half-centuries in three Tests at Sabina Park, the venue of the first match. The previous time he played here, Dravid top scored for India in both innings (81 and 68) of a low-scoring game to help them win the Test and the series.Rahul Dravid: “I am still enjoying the game”•Gallo Images”I have very pleasant memories of the ground, especially after what we achieved here when we came here last time,” Dravid said. “When we got here, anything could have happened on a low-scoring wicket, anything. We were the better team in the series, but on a difficult wicket like that you could so easily lose. I will definitely say that it was one of my better innings that I [have] played in terms of the quality.”Dravid said it had been his childhood ambition to play in the West Indies. “After hearing so much about playing in the West Indies, as a young kid, [I was] looking forward to coming here. My ambition has never changed.”I grew up to my dad turning the radio on and hearing commentary about Gavaskar scoring hundreds here [against] the fast bowlers, and dreamed about playing here. You want to come here and play in front of passionate crowds. Even when you are walking on the street they seem to know so much about your scores. I know that the grounds are not that full for Test matches but I still hope that there will be a good atmosphere.”There are quite a few young players in the Indian squad and Dravid said he is looking forward to passing on his experience and helping in the transition phase. “I am hoping that over the next seven Test matches, there will be opportunity to share those experiences, especially with some of the young batsmen coming up.”I know that in the next couple of years there will be times young batsmen will come through and that’s the way it should be. They are getting a lot of exposure in the one-day game, Twenty20 and the IPL. A lot of them are more experienced [compared to] when I, Sourav Ganguly or VVS Laxman came into the team. Hopefully when they make it to the team they can have the long careers that we have had. You know that the team is going to be in good health if three or four [of these] guys can establish themselves and score runs consistently. So it will be interesting to see which of these guys can perform for India.”

A patient half-century from allrounder Jim Allenby helped Glamorgan set Gloucestershire a target of 385 at Cardiff

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Apr-2011
Scorecard
A patient half-century from allrounder Jim Allenby helped Glamorgan set Gloucestershire a target of 385 at Cardiff. That was after the home side declared their second innings at tea on 370 for 9.By the close Gloucestershire had moved on to 42 for no wicket, needing another343 runs to win on the final day. It was something of a turnaround in fortunes for Glamorgan, who had been 26 for 4 and 54 for 6 in their first innings at the start of the opening day.Glamorgan had resumed their second innings on the third morning on 185 for 3 – an overall lead of 199. And they were indebted to Mark Wallace and a level-headed approach by Allenbyafter they lost both Ben Wright and Will Bragg in the space of four overs.Ben Wright was run out by a direct hit from Ian Cockbain while Bragg was snaffled at slip off Vikram Banerjee. But Wallace played confidently while Allenby adopted a cool head as thesixth-wicket partnership added 55 in 21 overs.Even though Wallace was dropped on 18 and then survived an lbw appeal, and Allenby saw off strong stumping and caught behind shouts, the pair soldiered on to take the Welsh side up to 247. But Wallace was caught on 37, leaving Graham Wagg, who had a runner aftersuffering a hamstring injury while bowling on day one, to continue the job ofsetting up a winning position.Glamorgan had moved on to 276 for 6 by lunch but with the ninth delivery with the second new ball Jon Lewis had Wagg caught behind for 19. Allenby, who reached his half-century in three hours from 127 balls with six fours, was joined by James Harris, who made a useful 25 before miscuing Banerjee to point.Allenby followed six overs later, holing out to cover as he was dismissed for 68 from 158 balls with seven fours. Dean Cosker added a mighty six just before Glamorgan declared at tea.After the interval, and with four sessions remaining, openers Cockbain and Richard Coughtrie began steadily with the former driving Harris for three fours through the offside.Cosker entered the attack in the eighth over and immediately posed a few problems for the young openers as Coughtrie nearly spooned a return catch to the slow left-armer, whose first six overs were all maidens. But the Gloucestershire openers survived the final 25 overs, with Cockbain 33 not out overnight.

The Goa Cricket Association has decided to drop its interim captain Swapnil Asnodkar for two Ranji Trophy matches because he decided to call off an achievable chase against Maharashtra

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Nov-2011The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has decided to drop its interim captain Swapnil Asnodkar for two Ranji Trophy matches because he decided to call off an achievable chase against Maharashtra in the first round of the Plate group. The fixture in Povorim ended in a draw, giving the visitors three points because of their first-innings lead and Goa only one.Ganeshraj Narvekar, son of current GCA president Dayanand Narvekar, took 5 for 48 on Ranji debut to restrict Maharashtra to 91 in their second innings, which left Goa with a target of 130 in about 20 overs. However, Asnodkar, who was leading Goa in the absence of the injured Shadab Jakati, decided to abort the chase after six overs. The hosts were on 18 for 1 at the time, with Asnodkar on 5 and Abhishek Raut on 8.Asnodkar’s decision had gone against what was decided at the team meeting during the innings break – that Goa would attempt to reach the target – and left the team management and the GCA selectors confused. Amit Yadav, a hard-hitting batsman, had also replaced Vaibhav Naik, Asnodkar’s regular opening partner, to help kickstart the chase.”The decision was taken with the coach in the team meeting that we are chasing it,” said Prasad Phaterpekar, the GCA secretary. “Accordingly we changed the opening combination. Abhishek Raut came one down. Both [Raut and Asnodkar] were Twenty20 specialists. After six overs, he [Asnodkar] just called off the match on his own as captain.”Patharpekar, who had rushed to the ground after hearing about Narvekar’s bowling exploits, was astonished by Asnodkar’s decision, as was the Goa selection panel comprising Prashant Kakode, Chandra Tendulkar and Prakash Mayekar. Phaterpekar consulted Goa coach Vivke Kolambkar, who had failed to get a response from Asnodkar. The decision to drop Asnodkar for the games against Assam and Jammu & Kashmir was unanimous.”We wanted to send a message that this was not in the interests of the team,” Phaterpekar said. If Asnodkar does not face further disciplinary action he will be eligible for selection for the home game against Hyderabad starting on November 29. Asnodkar remained unavailable for a comment.Asnodkar had become popular during the first IPL in 2008, when Shane Warne called him ‘the Goa Cannon’ because of the aggressive starts he gave Rajasthan Royals. In the team document designed at the beginning of the season, Warne’s note to Asnodkar read, “set up the innings with clever stroke play and use your strong wrists. Run like a rabbit between the wickets. Must be one of the shining lights in the field.”

In January 2018, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Spanish prospect at the time, Rafa Mir.

The Spaniard left La Liga Santander outfit Valencia to link up with former boss, Nuno Espirito Santo, who gave him his first-team debut against Swansea City in the FA Cup.

Mir’s time at Wolves was slow and uninspired.

After initially being shipped out on loan to Spanish second division side UD Las Palmas, he returned to England this time on loan to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, where he struggled for minutes.

Forest and Mir agreed to end the loan spell early, which then saw the Spaniard immediately loaned out to SD Huesca for a season and a half.

His time in Huesca at this point was the most prominent of his career, as he found his goalscoring touch, netting 25 goals in 57 appearances for them across two campaigns.

It was his 13 goals in La Liga that proved most prominent.

Mir’s goalscoring efforts proved to be enough for Sevilla to come sniffing around, which saw the 6 foot 2 Spaniard depart the Old Gold, after making just four appearances in three years.

Sevilla forked out £13.7m to acquire his services, with Wolves most likely feeling as though they had the last laugh, after purchasing Mir from Valencia for just £1.5m.

Though this is a transfer that would soon come back to bite them, with Mir, who has been celebrated for his “very cheeky” play, proving himself as a steady top division striker, having bagged nine goals in 29 La Liga appearances for Sevilla this season.

Whilst his market value has only steadily increased, the 24-year-old has proven himself in a top division for what is now two seasons running.

Ironically, Wolves could do with a striker of Mir’s prominence, which will no doubt infuriate Old Gold fans for failing to give him a proper chance.

If he can better his goal tally next season, his current market value of £14.4m will surely soar which will make Wolves regret their decision even more.

In other news: Insider “absolutely amazed” by news coming from Wolves, it’ll have supporters worried

If the Indians thought they had hit rock bottom on the opening day, they were in for the most unbelievable of shocks as they crashed through that bottom and continued their free-fall

The Bulletin by George Binoy18-Dec-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
AB de Villiers was a man in a hurry, and scored South Africa’s fastest ever Test century•Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s powerful performance during the first half of the third day added so much ground to the territory captured on the previous two that the dominance of India’s openers for 29 overs, their half-centuries and three dropped catches made no dent in the home team’s ironclad prospects of taking a 1-0 lead in the series.If India thought they had already hit rock bottom, they were in for the most unbelievable shock as they crashed through that and continued to free-fall. Their bowling was toothless, and South Africa infinitely more ruthless. Under blue skies in Centurion, AB de Villiers pulverised the featherweight attack like a heavyweight might, and scored a hundred in under two hours. South Africa’s lead swelled by 225 runs in 36 overs before lunch and Jacques Kallis reached his maiden double-century soon after the break. Graeme Smith declared shortly after on 620 for 4 – when de Villiers fell – with a monstrous lead of 484.In cloudier weather, Virender Sehwag and Gambhir gave India a modicum of respite by surviving the new ball and scoring briskly. Their partnership was worth 137, but the battle was for longevity and both batsmen lost it. Their dismissals left India with eight wickets in hand and two days to survive. They’ll need a batting performance without precedent, and perhaps substantial rain as well.That India were attempting to avoid an innings defeat so early was because their bowlers were helpless in the morning: unable to make a breakthrough, unable to control the run-rate, unable to do anything to help their cause. Ishant Sharma was gifted a wicket but de Villiers seamlessly picked up where Hashim Amla left off. His 76-ball century was the quickest by a South African. Kallis, who until today averaged about 14 after resuming on an overnight century, added plenty more.The maiden over de Villiers played out against Jaidev Unadkat soon after he came in – on 396 for 3 – was the lull before the hurricane. His first forceful shot was the straightest of drives, bisecting the gap between Ishant on his follow-through and the stumps. de Villiers then executed the plan to target Harbhajan Singh to perfection. He stepped out to the offspinner’s first delivery, but had to readjust to a fuller length and squirt it through point. In Harbhajan’s next over, de Villiers nimbly got down on one knee and launched the ball over deep square leg. Soon he was reverse-sweeping and his aggression rubbed off on Kallis, who had been restrained for the first hour.The century partnership came when de Villiers danced towards Suresh Raina and caused some of the fans on the grass banks at wide long-on to rush to catch the ball. Two more consecutive sixes off Raina, a muscular pull and a slog-sweep, took de Villiers to his century. Kallis helped himself against Raina’s long-hops as well and also dismissed Sachin Tendulkar over deep midwicket.Smart Stats

South Africa’s total of 620 for 4 is their sixth-best in Tests, and their highest against India.

South Africa’s first-innings lead of 484 is their second-highest in Tests. The only occasion they managed a higher lead was against England at Lord’s in 2003, when they took a lead of 509 and eventually won by an innings and 92 runs.

For India too, it’s their second-highest first-innings deficit: they’d fallen behind by 490 runs against West Indies at Eden Gardens in 1958-59.

AB de Villiers’ 75-ball century is the tenth-fastest in all Tests, and the quickest by a South African.

Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten 201 lifts his overall average against India to 67.78, with four centuries in 14 Tests. At home, he averages 88 against India.

The 224-run stand between Kallis and de Villiers is South Africa’s second-highest for the fourth wicket, and their best against India.

Kallis’ 230-run partnership with Hashim Amla is the second time they’d added more than 200 against India in 2010: in February, they’d put together 340 in Nagpur.

The Amla-Kallis and Kallis-de Villiers pairs are among the top five pairs in terms of runs scored for South Africa.

India were using part-timers because the form of the specialists left MS Dhoni with few options. After the battering on the second day, India were desperate for a stronger start, and Sreesanth began with a no-ball, complementing his first-ball wide yesterday. Ishant was better but one of his fielding efforts was indicative of India’s morale. Sreesanth had delivered a short ball, Amla had pulled, and Ishant, having just completed an over, jogged along the boundary and made no effort to save the four. Some Indians glared at him, but no one’s performances lifted.Smith might have declared at lunch but Kallis was 18 short of a double-hundred. He got there by glancing Jaidev Unadkat to fine leg to spark off tumultuous applause at SuperSport Park. de Villiers was celebrating for his partner with arms aloft, and the South Africans in the dressing room clapped vigorously. Kallis took off his helmet, revealing his flushed face and full shock of hair, and raised his arms aloft. He had flung that monkey off his back after 142 Tests and his fans cheered for longer than usual.The pitch had certainly eased for even Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were unable to extract as much assistance from it on the third day. Their pace and bounce made a difference though. Gambhir was hit on his glove and thigh off successive short balls from Morkel, but grew more assured once he survived that period.Sehwag, bristling after his first-innings duck, slashed and drove repeatedly square on the off side, even though several fielders were waiting for the catch. Smith brought Tsotsobe into the attack in the eighth over and Sehwag blazed his second ball over wide long-on for six and the fourth over point. He continued to attack Tsotsobe but one powerful but airy drive was dropped by Amla at short cover. The chance was extremely difficult and Sehwag was on 34.With few men protecting the boundary on a fast outfield, Sehwag and Gambhir got terrific value for their shots and scored at around six an over. On 43 and 62, Gambhir was put down by Alviro Petersen at point. Sehwag, however, skied Paul Harris to Smith at deep cover, and Gambhir was lbw to one that kept low from Steyn. Those blows before the light faded in Centurion tightened South Africa’s vice-like grip on the Test.