Back in December 1996, India beat South Africa in Kanpur to claim the series 2-1. As Daryll Cullinan walked back after being run out by Sachin Tendulkar, he crossed substitute fielder V.V.S. Laxman, who applauded the wicket from outside the rope. ‘You guys are coming to Durban soon, we’ll see who claps there,’ quipped Cullinan.
India got a slow pitch in Port Elizabeth in their only tour match before the Test series. They virtually arrived in Durban unprepared. And when they did, they were demolished by Allan Donald even before they realised what had hit them.
The Indian seamers did well to bowl out South Africa for 235 and 259. Venkatesh Prasad took 10-153, still the only ten-wicket haul by an Indian in South Africa. Javagal Srinath, too, had 5-116, but India desperately missed a world-class third seamer. And yet, bowling was not what ailed India in Durban.
India were bowled out for 100 and 66, the second-innings total being the lowest in Kingsmead. With 9-54, Allan Donald was the wrecker-in-chief, but there was no respite at the other end from South Africa’s fast-bowling all-rounders: Shaun Pollock had 5-43, Lance Klusener 3-24, and Brian McMillan 2-36. The humiliation got over well inside three days.
Things went further downhill in Cape Town. This time, the lack of a third fast bowler hurt India even more. While Srinath (3-130) and Prasad (3-114) got their customary share, they had little support, and Gary Kirsten, McMillan, and Klusener all slammed hundreds as South Africa declared on 529/7.
India were then reduced to 58/5. All seemed lost when Mohammad Azharuddin, having scored two hundreds in his last three Test matches against South Africa, joined Tendulkar at the crease.
Perhaps drawing inspiration from having met Nelson Mandela at the lunch break, Tendulkar and Azhar added 222 in 40 overs in an exhilarating display of strokes. Let alone dismiss them, the South African attack that had taken 25 wickets for 224 runs in the Test series until then, seemed unable to stop them.
The brutal Azhar dominated the partnership with a 110-ball 115 before being run out. Tendulkar, the more orthodox of the two, was last out, for a 254-ball 169, being spectacularly caught by Adam Bacher at deep square leg. And yet, despite the supreme quality of batting during the partnership, India conceded a 170-run lead in the first innings, and lost by 282 runs.
The teams moved to Johannesburg, where India finally batted first, and took control. Rahul Dravid (148, his first Test century, and 81) and Sourav Ganguly added 145 and 108 in the two innings, and India set South Africa 356 in just over a day.
On the final morning, South Africa were reduced to 77/5 when a thunderstorm stopped held up play. Once the match resumed, India took two more wickets, but Klusener (49) hung on for almost two hours with Cullinan to take the match to the last hour.
Anil Kumble eventually claimed Klusener in the sixth over of the last hour. With Donald hanging on and only Paul Adams to follow, India had a chance to win their first Test match on South African soil, but the light deteriorated, and they were forced to take their fast bowlers off.
The match had to be called off with four overs to spare. South Africa scored 228/8, of which Cullinan alone got 122 not out, including some delightful shots in difficult conditions.
India could not win, and had to struggle to make it past Zimbabwe and reach the final of Standard Bank International One-Day Series. It rained during the final, and the match had to be replayed. South Africa duly won the tournament.
1st Test: South Africa 235 and 259 beat India 100 and 66 by 328 runs. Player of the Match: Andrew Hudson.
2nd Test: South Africa 529/7 decl. and 256/6 decl. beat India 359 and 144 by 282 runs. Player of the Match: Brian McMillan.
3rd Test: India 410 and 266/8 decl. drew with South Africa 321 and 228/8. Player of the Match: Rahul Dravid.
South Africa won the series 2-0. Player of the Series: Allan Donald.
South Africa won the Standard Bank International One-Day Series. Player of the Tournament: Hansie Cronje.