South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the second Test by an innings and 90 runs on Saturday.

After the tourists declared on their overnight score of 494-7, India needed to score 418 to make them bat again.

Virender Sehwag hit two sixes in the first over when play began after a delay for damp, but soon fell for 17.

Sourav Ganguly (87) and Mahendra Dhoni (52) held out for 36 overs and shared 110 but paceman Dale Steyn (3-44) broke the stand and Makhaya Ntini took 3-91.

The considerable deficit did not appear to affect Sehwag, who hit the fastest Test trip century in the first Test, and seemed intent on another barrage when he pulled then clipped Steyn over fine-leg.

But in the eighth over, Ntini trapped him only half forward and he was lbw.

India badly needed a long innings from the obdurate Rahul Dravid, but he lasted only 40 balls before he was surprised by a lifting ball from Morne Morkel and could only fend to third slip, where AB de Villiers took a sharp catch.

Wasim Jaffer then drove at a wide one from Jacques Kallis in the next over, but got a thick edge to de Villiers, this time at second slip.

VVS Laxman struck four fluent early boundaries and was still there at lunch with Ganguly. but having reached 35, he got a faint edge through to the keeper.

Captains past and present, Ganguly and Dhoni, showed some useful resistance, but Ganguly, having recorded his 33rd Test fifty was denied a 16th century when he was given out flashing at a fullish delivery from Steyn.

It was unclear whether his disappointment was at umpire Tony Hill's decision, his own error so close to a century, his team's predicament or a combination of all three.

Dhoni edged the hard-working Ntini low to Graeme Smith at first slip eight overs later and the end was in sight.

Last man Sree Santh had some fun in the closing stages after being dropped first ball by Makhaya Ntini.

The extrovert Santh charged down at Steyn and top-edged high into the late afternoon sunshine but Ntini mis-judged the swirling chance and the ball went through his hands, brushing his cap before falling to the ground.

Santh then swiped Steyn over long-on for six and clipped the next ball off his pads for four.

Ntini atoned for his dropped catch by rattling Santh's stumps to complete a convincing victory for the South Africans, leaving Irfan Pathan stranded on 43.

It was India's first innings defeat since 2001 and South Africa's biggest win against them in India. 

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