Kirsten has the safest pair of hands

By Mohandas Menon

** The 80-run stand between V.V.S. Laxman and Anil Kumble equals the best for the ninth wicket by any team against South Africa. The pair equalled the record of the Pakistani combine of Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar at Durban in February 1998.

However, the duo managed to better the previous record for India for this wicket against South Africa - 77 between Kapil Dev and Kumble at the same venue in December 1992. The Laxman- Kumble partnership was also the best for the ninth wicket at this ground.

** The 28 runs scored by Kumble was the highest by an Indian No. 10 against South Africa, bettering the unbeaten 21 by Kumble himself at Johannesburg in November 1992.

** Kumble's was Gary Kirsten's 68th catch in his 77th match. Kirsten broke the South African record of 67 catches held by Daryll Cullinan.

** Shaun Pollock five for 40 was only the second five- wicket haul by a captain at this ground. England's C. Aubrey Smith took five for 19 against South Africa in March 1889, the first-ever Test played by South Africa.

** Pollock took his tally of wickets to 49 for the year in 11 matches. Only Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (59) and Australia's Glenn McGrath (54) have captured more wickets than Pollock during 2001.

** Herschelle Gibbs, while making 12 in the second innings, became the first batsman to aggregate 1000 runs in 2001. Gibbs has made 1002 runs (avg. 58.94) in 11 matches.

** The following are the highest scores in the fourth innings of a Test at this ground: 273 by South Africa versus New Zealand in 1961-62 (Target: 313); 271 for eight by Australia against South Africa in 1996-97 (Target: 269); 246 by Australia versus South Africa in 1969-70 (Target: 569); 215 for five by South Africa against New Zealand in 1953-54 (Target: 211).

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