Cape Town, Jan 5: India batted pathetically to dig themselves into a hole on the fourth day of the third and final cricket Test against South Africa here today. The visitors were 121 for six at tea break, only 162 runs ahead, and much of it was because of their timid approach as only 48 runs were scored at the cost of four wickets in the two hours of the afternoon session. India were 73 for 2 at lunch and with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly firmly in the saddle, things could not have appeared more rosy for the visitors.
However, the entire complexion of the game changed once Ganguly departed to Jacques Kallis. The former Indian captain steered a catch to Herschelle Gibbs at point for 46, made from 131 minutes and 89 balls and including five fours. Sachin Tendulkar finally emerged from the pavilion and promptly put the game to sleep with some uninspiring batting. The batting slowed down considerably and at one stage the great man had scored only nine runs from 51 balls before his sweep off left-arm spinner Paul Harris brought the first boundary for the Indians in 18
overs.
Dravid was no less guilty of allowing the bowlers to dictate terms and the poor approach retarded the team's progress. He began to get impatient in the second hour and finally drove a return catch to Harris, after making 47 runs from 204 minutes and 134-ball batting, with five fours. India were struck another blow when V V S Laxman (1) flicked Harris towards deep mid-wicket and hesitated for the second run. It cost him dear as the throw from the deep by Shaun Pollock found him short of crease. Just before tea break, Tendulkar departed lbw to Pollock for 14 made from an agonising stay of 88 minutes and 62 balls during which he hit only one four.
Scorecard(Agencies)
