India rise to the occasion

India rose to the occasion at Kolkata once again, handing out a stinging innings defeat to South Africa despite losing time and key cricketers, to keep them at runner-up position in the world Test rankings.

The magic of Kolkata drove the Indian team to an incredible win, despite all odds.

Having suffered the humiliation of an innings defeat in the opener, not many would have bet on India to come back and win one to draw the series. The senseless ICC (with BCCI surely having a hand in it) had scheduled only a 2-match series between the top two sides in the world, and this was the equivalent of a Test championship.

Not only did India win, but it did so in style.

South Africa's world-leading fast bowling attack could not bowl out the Indian lineup despite the advantage of the sporting wicket delivered by the curator in Kolkata, nor did their batting lineup have any answer to Harbhajan Singh's spin on a pitch that had more bounce than turn.

India's had four centurions -- Vierender Sehwag setting the stage with his brutal assault on the Saffie quickies, Sachin Tendulkar providing solid support, VVS Laxman delivering the goods at the ground where he once produced the finest innings in Test cricket, and Mahendra Dhoni picking an opportune time to bat himself back into form -- ground the opposition into the dust. The sellout Kolkata crowd provided them with magnificent support, and the visitors withered.

India lost a whole day's worth of cricket to rain and failing light, and their best bowler -- Zaheer Khan -- to injury, missing his services in the second innings.

But the magic of Kolkata would not be denied. India won by an inning with less than two overs to spare, and yet another great visiting team had been annihilated at Eden Gardens.