Kolkata: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Thursday, after the home team’s thrilling series-levelling victory over South Africa helping them retain the number one test ranking, that all the credit for the win should go to the bowlers for bowling their hearts out on an unresponsive pitch.

Dhoni said that the post-tea session on the opening day of the game, in which India scalped seven South African wickets, tilted the game in his team’s favour and even though the side was missing Zaheer Khan, who had strained a leg muscle, on the final day, Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra stepped up and shouldered the extra responsibilty.

“The bowlers were really great. The wicket did nothing on the first day. It was not a turner as such but Mishy (Mishra) and Bhajji (Harbhajan) bowled really well,” Dhoni said. “Today, we didn’t have Zaheer and the bowlers bowled really well. We had lost one day’s play and today we did not have Zaheer. We desperately wanted to be on the winning side because of the amount of effort that the three bowlers put in today,” he said.

“Mishra bowled really well. It was good to see Ishant (Sharma) bowling with rhythm and pace and bowling in right areas. Bhajji too was brilliant. There is so much pressure on him ever since Anil Kumble retired. Every time he walks out, people expect him to get 3-4 wickets,” Dhoni said.

The victory didn’t come easy for India as the last South African pair of Hashim Amla and Morne Morkel batted for close to 80 minutes and 20 overs before Harbhajan, who rediscovered his form in his happy hunting ground with eight crucial wickets, removed Morkel to trigger off euphoria across the Eden Gardens.

Harbhajan said with time running out, he had his heart in his mouth. “The heart was pumping. I’m very happy. Today we bowled with just three bowlers but we have done the job. Eden has been special to me. I don’t know what it is but I have done well here always,” he said.

“We wanted to remain at the top of the table. We know we have got the players and the team to remain the number one side,” said the offie, who opted out of the first two ODIs against South Africa to attend his sister’s marriage. “By the time I return to the side for the third and final match, we should have won the series 2-0,” he quipped.

India’s batting genius, Sachin Tendulkar, also cherished the moment and saluted the bowlers for their never-say-die spirit. “It was a good Test and good to see the scoreboard saying that we remain the number one Test team,” said Sachin, who notched up his 47th Test ton in this match. “Our seamers did a decent job on day one. But it was Harbhajan’s three wickets in the final session that made a lot of difference and then Zaheer claimed a couple. They set up a good platform for us.”

Unlike Harbhajan, Tendulkar said he was confident that South Africa would not be able to save the match. “No match is over till the last ball is bowled. I knew it was just a matter of getting enough bowl in the right areas. After all, we needed just one wicket,” Tendulkar said.

Although India won the match, nobody would ever forget the marathon effort of Hashim Amla, who batted for more than 8 hours to score an unbeaten 127, his second century in the match.  ”I’m tired and disappointed we lost the match,” said a weary Amla whose 394-ball vigil went in vain.

“Me and Morne were just having some fun out there. He played really well and so did (Wayne) Parnell earlier. Fortunately, Morne and Parnell are decent batsmen and took lots of pressure of me,” said the right-hander, who got centuries in both the innings to bag the Man of the Match award.

“I am just grateful that I have had a good tour. Unfortunately we lost. It was a very good wicket and we could have saved it. There wasn’t anything unplayable from the wicket,” said Amla, who was also adjudged Man of the Series for scoring 490 runs in the two-match series.

Proteas skipper Graeme Smith felt his team should have batted better in the first essay and held their catches. “We should have batted better in the first innings. We then came and dropped a few catches. The pitch (here) was still good,” he said.

Lavishing praise on Amla, he said, “He has been outstanding through the series. He is become our glue at number three. I don’t think any of us have seen him play better. He has a calm mind and has been working very hard.”

Tagged with: Amit Mishra, Graeme Smith, Harbhajan Singh, Hashim Amla, India, Ishant Sharma, Kolkata, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, South Africa, Zaheer Khan

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