Durban: India registered only their second Test victory on South African soil when they beat the Proteas by 87 runs on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.
The victory enabled India to level the three-match series 1-1. South Africa crushed the visitors by an innings and 25 runs in the first Test at Centurion.
India achieved the much-needed victory when Lonwabo Tsotsobe (0) was run out soon after Ishant Sharma dismissed Morne Morkel (20) in the same over as the hosts were bowled out for 215 in their second innings.
Ishant dismissed Morkel to end an annoying ninth wicket partnership of 33 runs which the tailender put on with Aswell Prince, who remained not out on 39.
The fourth day's play started with Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers resuming the South African second innings at 111/3 chasing 303 runs to win the match.
S Sreesanth gave India an early breakthrough when he had Kallis (17) caught by Virender Sehwag at gully off a superb bouncer to reduce South Africa to 123/4.
Harbhajan Singh was lucky when he got a leg before decision against AB de Villiers (33) in his favour even though the ball was going over the stumps.
Umpire Steve Davis then made his second error when he adjudged South African wicket-keeper Mark Boucher (1) out leg before when the Zaheer Khan delivery was missing the off-stump, but India, who had insisted on not having the UDRS technology in this series, did not mind these decisions one bit.
Zaheer then had Dale Steyn (10) caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at third slip to pin down South Africa to 155/7.
Zaheer continued his wicket-taking spree after lunch too as he removed Paul Harris (7) in the second over after the break to end the 27-run eighth wicket partnership with Aswell Prince.
Brief scores
India 205 (Laxman 38, Steyn 6-50) and 228 (Laxman 96, Tsotsobe 3-43, Morkel 3-47)
South Africa 131 (Harbhajan 4-10, Khan 3-36) and 215 (Prince 39*, Sreesanth 3-45, Khan 3-57)
Result India won by 87 runs
MOM VVS Laxman (India)