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Summary
South Africa won the opening test by an innings and six runs on Tuesday to hand top-ranked India their first defeat on home soil in almost two years. Left-arm spinner Paul Harris and fast bowler Dale Steyn took three wickets each to help South Africa record a morale-boosting victory after they broke Sachin Tendulkar's resistance following his 46th test century. India were bowled out for 319 as Steyn finished with a match haul of 10 for 108 following South Africa's imposing first innings of 558 for six declared and a career-best seven for 51 in India's first innings. Harris took the prized wicket of Tendulkar for 100 after frustrating the master batsman by bowling a defensive leg-side line. Tendulkar's century, which included 13 boundaries, was his third in three tests. Harris then dismissed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 25 and finished with three for 76 off a marathon 38 overs that included 17 maidens. When India resumed on 66-2 after being forced to follow-on, Tendulkar put on 72 for the third wicket with Murali Vijay before Harris struck. Both Vijay and Tendulkar fell attempting to sweep at Harris, who frustrated the batsmen by bowling accurately to a leg-side field in a successful attempt to dry up runs. Vijay top-edged to Morne Morkel at fine leg while Tendulkar was bowled, the ball coming off his pad and arm. Left-arm medium-pacer Wayne Parnell had Subramaniam Badrinath (6) edge behind before Tendulkar went. Tendulkar, who was dropped by Jacques Kallis at slip on 45, batted superbly before he succumbed to Harris. Harris then sent back skipper Dhoni, the last recognised batsman, who was caught by AB de Villiers at silly point. The last four wickets put on 110 runs before Steyn fired out Wriddhiman Saha (36) and Amit Mishra (0) to give Dhoni his first test defeat in his 12-match career as captain. The last time India lost a test at home was to South Africa in Ahmedabad in 2008. Man of the match Hashim Amla hit a double century and Kallis struck 173 to put South Africa in control with Steyn returning his career-best figures to bowl out top-ranked India for 233 in their first innings. The second and final test is in Kolkata at the weekend. South Africa will reclaim the number one ranking if they win the series.
