Statistical Highlights
From Mohandas Menon, Port Elizabeth
Statistical highlights for the second Test (3rd day)
The 80 run partnership between VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble equals the best
for the 9th wicket by any team against South Africa. The pair equals the
record of the Pakistani pair of Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar at Durban in
February 1998. However they managed to better the previous for India for
this wicket against South Africa which was 77 between Kapil Dev and Kumble
at this same venue in December 1992. Incidentally the Laxman-Kumble
partnership was also the best for the ninth wicket at this ground.
The 28 by Anil Kumble was the highest made by an Indian number ten
batsman against South Africa bettering the previous best of 21 not out by
Kumble himself at Johannesburg in November 1992.
The catch by Gary Kirsten of Kumble was his 68th of his career in his
77th match. He now becomes the South African fieldsman with maximum catches
in Test cricket. He went past the tally of 67 catches by Daryll Cullinan.
The 5-40 by Shaun Pollock was the only second five-wicket haul by a
captain at this ground. England's C Aubrey Smith had taken 5-19 against
South Africa way back in March 1889, which incidentally was the first ever
Test match to be played by South Africa.
Pollock has now taken his tally of wickets to 49 for this year in 11
matches. Only Sri Lankan Muthiah Muralitharan (59 wickets) and Australian
Glenn McGrath (54) have captured more wickets than Pollock during 2001.
Herschelle Gibbs during his brief innings of 12 in the second innings
became the first batsman during 2001 to aggregate 1000 runs. Gibbs has 1002
runs (avg. 58.94) in 11 matches to his credit.
The following are the highest scores recorded in the fourth innings of a
Test match at this ground:
273 by South Africa against New Zealand in 1961-62 (Target set 313 - match
result: lost)
271-8 by Australia against South Africa in 1996-97 (Target set 269 - match
result: won)
246 by Australia against South Africa in 1969-70 (Target set 569 - match
result: lost)
215-5 by South Africa against New Zealand in 1953-54 (Target set 211 -
match result: won)
India's tour of South Africa: Complete coverage
