Cape Town, Jan 3: India lost valuable ground in the third and final cricket Test after allowing South Africa to fight their way back into the series-decider with a commendable all-round show here today. Captain Graeme Smith led the South African challenge from the front with an unbeaten 76 as the hosts made a strong recovery to be placed at 144 for one at close on second day in reply to India's 414 in the first innings. Smith also put on 130 runs for the unbroken second wicket stand with Hashim Amla (50) to seize back the initiative from the visitors.
Scorecard
The South Africans lost an early wicket when AB de Villiers (1) inside edged S Sreesanth behind the stumps but thereafter the Proteas came back strong at the Indians to throw open the match. India did appear rattled by the aggression of the hosts and there were a number of misfields which compounded the rather poor line bowled by the bowlers.
It more or less completed a poor day for the Indians who resumed at 253 for 3 and added only 161 runs while losing the rest of the batsmen. Despite half centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (60) and Sourav Ganguly (64), and a belligerent 40 from demoted Virender Sehwag, India suffered a collapse and lost their final five wickets for 19 runs. India were well on course for a big first innings score when they took lunch at 350 for 5 and thereafter swelled it to 395 for 5 within 45 minutes on resumption. Ganguly and Sehwag raised 58 runs from only 72 deliveries when the Delhi batsman tried to sweep left-arm spinner Paul Harris only to offer a catch at fine leg.
Shaun Pollock then ran through the tail to finish with 4 for 75 from 29.1 overs, a commendable figure, although much attention centered on debutant Harris who also claimed 4 scalps for 129 runs. India lost both the overnight batsmen, Tendulkar and V V S Laxman (13), in the first session where 21 runs were scored in the first hour but thereafter 75 runs accrued from the second. Laxman lost his off-stump to Dale Steyn through poor footwork while Tendulkar was stunned to see a delivery from Harris pitch outside his leg-stump and turn and bounce to take the bat's edge to lone slip fielder Jacques
Kallis.
Tendulkar in all batted for 187 minutes and faced 130 balls for his 60 runs, stroking 11 fours. Ganguly lived a charmed life, appearing susceptible against short-pitched deliveries aimed at his body but clouting some attractive boundaries as he rushed towards his half-century. Sehwag was a willing foil as he struck South African bowlers with impunity, once going down on his knees to hoist Harris over midwicket for a massive six. Sehwag made 40 from 50 balls in 49 minutes of batting and struck six fours and a six in his knock. Anil Kumble (0) was leg before to Pollock off a delivery which cut back sharply and Zaheer Khan (1) failed to keep his right leg on the ground as he was stumped off Harris for one.
Ganguly, now left with the last man Munaf Patel, came down the track to deposit Harris high into the widish long on stands but fell at the other end when he lobbed Pollock towards mid-off. His 66-run knock came off 75 balls and contained nine fours and a six. South Africa started their reply 40 minutes before tea break and lost opener de Villiers soon. But Smith appeared in regal touch as he began his innings in stunning fashion, hooking the first ball from Zaheer Khan for a six and then pulling the last for a boundary. He has so far hit 11 boundaries and a six in his unconquered 111-run knock. Amla also got into his groove gradually and had hit six fours so far in his gritty 128-ball effort.
Scorecard(Agencies)
