South Africa's Dale Steyn shouts for a successful leg before appeal against India's Harbhajan Singh (left) during the third day of the second Test of the Future Cup series in Ahmedabad yesterday. South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs. - AP

AHMEDABAD, India (AP):

SOUTH AFRICA inflicted India's heaviest defeat in eight years yesterday, beating the hosts by an innings and 90 runs in the second Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

South Africa declared their first innings at the overnight score of 494-7 and then bowled out India - who posted a dismal 76 in their first innings - for 328 in their second to win inside three days.

"It was difficult to bounce back after getting bowled out for 76, that took the game away from us," India captain Anil Kumble said.

It was India's biggest defeat since losing to Australia by an innings and 141 runs in 2000, and their first loss inside three days since a defeat by New Zealand in 2002.

Usually a tough Test opponent on their own turf, this was India's biggest loss at home in 49 years. Australia, led by Richie Benaud, beat India by an innings and 127 runs in 1959.

South Africa staked their claim to being the second-best Test nation in the world behind Australia by recording an innings victory for the third time in 2008.

Makhaya Ntini (3-44) and Dale Steyn (3-91) did the damage for South Africa on a day that extended to 7-1/2 hours play to end a game which had seemed a foregone conclusion after the hosts' first innings collapse.

India had not been beaten by more than an innings since Sri Lanka's win at Colombo in 2001, and not at home since 2000 when South Africa won by innings and 71 runs at Bangalore. That match was the previous biggest win by South Africa against India.

"This was the perfect Test match for us, dominating from the start to end," said South African captain Graeme Smith. "We performed according to our game plan."

A.B. De Villiers, who scored a career-best 217 not out, was Man of the Match. His record partnership with Jacques Kallis cut out all escape routes for India after their first innings collapse.

De Villiers credited Kallis with helping him through some tense moments.

"Kallis was a calming effect, especially when I was close to my first century against India," De Villiers said.

Smith hailed the pace trio that set up the victory.

Big transition

"This is a big transition for Ntini to become a team leader. Steyn and Morne Morkel are still young and Ntini has shown good leadership," Smith said.

The third Test starts on Friday at Kanpur.

"The series doesn't end here and the boys know we face another Test next week," Smith said.

South Africa's declaration yesterday came after umpires inspected the ground and decided to delay the start of play for half an hour, allowing the ground to dry after heavy rain on Friday forced an early finish.

Upon the late resumption, South Africa's pace bowlers continued to torment India's top-order, reducing them to 125-4 as Virender Sehwag (17) hit two sixes in the first over before departing, followed by Rahul Dravid (17), Wasim Jaffer (19) and V.V.S. Laxman (35).

There was some resistance in the fifth-wicket partnership of 110 between Saurav Ganguly (87) and Mahendra Dhoni (52).

Ganguly seemed on course for his 16th Test century when he was adjudged caught behind shaping for a cut against Steyn. Ganguly seemed surprised when umpire Tony Hill ruled him caught behind, with TV replays suggesting the noise came from bat hitting pitch.

Eight boundaries

The first India batsman to make a half-century in the Test, Ganguly's 149-ball knock contained eight boundaries.

Dhoni (52) went on to complete his fifty before giving Smith a low catch at first slip off Ntini, and the departure of their last recognised batsman condemned India to certain defeat.

All-rounder Irfan Pathan hit an unbeaten 43, but got little support as Steyn removed lower-order batsmen Harbhajan Singh (four) and Rudra Pratap Singh (eight) before Ntini clean bowled Shantakumaran Sreesanth (17) to seal the victory.