Cricket: Donald blazes through India

South Africa 235 and 164-4 India 1

Allan Donald gave South Africa a stranglehold on the first Test against India in Durban yesterday. Donald, spearheading a four-pronged pace attack, took 5 for 40 as India were routed for 100 in 39.1 overs - their lowest five-day total against the South Africans.

It gave South Africa a first-innings lead of 135, and the opener Andrew Hudson, who top-scored with 80 first time around, and Adam Bacher built on that with a second-wicket partnership of 111 as the home side closed on 164 for 4 in their second innings. Hudson (52) batted authoritatively for his second fifty of the match and Bacher, on his Test debut, made a composed 55 for South Africa to establish a lead of 299 going into the third day.

While India had the better of the first day in dismissing South Africa for 235, their batsmen struggled yesterday against a quartet who took advantage of a pitch offering pace and bounce. Donald, forced to quit the recent series in India midway through the second Test due to a heel injury, bowled with hostility to collect his seventh five-wicket haul at Test level. He was well supported by both Shaun Pollock and Brian McMillan, who took two wickets each.

No Indian batsman reached 20 as they were dismissed for the third-lowest Test total compiled at Kingsmead Cricket Ground, after Australia's 75 and South Africa's 99 in the same match during the 1949-50 series.

Saurav Ganguly had the highest score of 16 but the key wicket was that of the Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar. From successive deliveries he dispatched Donald to the boundary but next ball he was comprehensively beaten by a rapid off-cutter to be bowled through the gate for 15.

Second day; India won toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First innings 235 (A Hudson 80; B K V Prasad 5-60)

INDIA - First innings

(Overnight 2 for 0)

V Rathore c Hudson b Donald 7

W V Raman b Pollock 0

S Ganguly c Klusener b Pollock 16

*S R Tendulkar b Donald 15

M Azharuddin c Bacher b McMillan 15

R S Dravid lbw b McMillan 7

N R Mongia c Richardson b Donald 4

A Kumble not out 13

J Srinath c Cullinan b Donald 0

D Johnson c Bacher b Donald 3

B K V Prasad c Richardson b Klusener 4

Extras (b4 lb3 nb7 w2) 16

Total (39.1 overs) 100

Fall: 1-2, 2-22, 3-36, 4-52, 5-68, 6-74, 7-74, 8-74, 9-89.

Bowling: Donald 16-5-40-5 (w1); Pollock 8-2-18-2 (nb5); Klusener 7.1- 2-8-1 (nb2); McMillan 8-2-27-2 (w1).

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings

A C Hudson c Tendulkar b Kumble 52

G Kirsten c Dravid b Prasad 2

A M Bacher c Tendulkar b Kumble 55

D J Cullinan c Mongia b Prasad 3

*W J Cronje not out 17

H H Gibbs not out 25

Extras (b5 lb2 nb3) 10

Total (for 4) 164

Fall: 1-4, 2-115, 3-120, 4-120.

To bat: B M McMillan, S M Pollock, D J Richardson, L Klusener, A A Donald.

Bowling: Srinath 15-3-42-0 (nb1); Prasad 15-2-49-2; Johnson 9-1-39-0 (nb2); Kumble 10-3-19-2; Ganguly 2-0-8-0.

Umpires: D Orchard (SA)and S Dunn (NZ).