South Africa vs India 2018: Top 5 Tests between South Africa and India

#1 South Africa vs India, Johannesburg 1997

Rahul Dravid had got 148 and 81 in the Johannesburg Test in 1997

This match was a dead rubber after South Africa had twice thumped India in the previous two Tests, but the visitors were determined to not let go a final opportunity of winning a Test on the tour. India batted first and put up a brave display with a score of 410. The total was based on the fourth wicket partnership of 145 between newcomers Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly after India had lost 3 for 100.

Ganguly was comparatively attacking, while Dravid played patiently to tighten one end up. Eventually, both fell for 73 and 148, respectively.

South Africa never got off to a start but Shaun Pollock frustrated India with 79. Brian McMillan got 47 as India’s pace spearhead Javagal Srinath broke through with crucial wickets of Daryll Cullinan and captain Hansie Cronje. Srinath achieved figures of 5/104 which gave India an essential 89-run lead. In India’s second innings, yet again, Dravid and Ganguly contributed heftily to set South Africa 356.

At 95/7 in South Africa’s chase, victory was all but India’s. Only one out of the seven dismissed batsmen had made it to double digits as Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble had accounted for all the wickets to press for India’s first Test win on South African soil. But Cullinan and Lance Klusener turned villains to add 127. Already, India had lost a few overs after rain had halted play earlier in the innings; then came this recuing act and though Klusener was removed by Kumble, bad light stopped play with four overs remaining and South Africa eight down, Cullinan stubbornly standing at 122.

India 410 (Dravid 148, Ganguly 73; Klusener 3/75) and 266/8 dec (Dravid 81, Ganguly 60; Donald 3/38) drew with South Africa 321 (Pollock 79, McMillan 47; Srinath 5/104) and 228/8 (Cullinan 122*, Klusener 49; Kumble 3/40)