Laxman holds fort as India extend lead

South Africa pulled things back by getting rid off four top order Indian batsmen and made life difficult for visitors on a hostile pitch.

Virender Sehwag once again failed to convert a good start into a big score after chasing a wide delivery from Tsotsobe but not before giving India a breezy start.Harbhajan, Zaheer lead India's fightback.

Earlier, Harbhajan Singh took four wickets after lunch to help India bowl South Africa out for 131 at tea and put India in charge on day two of the second Test at Kingsmead.

Hashim Amla (33) top-scored for the hosts, but like the tourists' earlier attempt, the innings lacked a major contribution as Zaheer Khan, who missed the first Test through injury, also claimed three wickets.

That left India with a 74-run lead after finishing on 205 earlier in the day, which began with a 15th career five-wicket haul for Dale Steyn (six for 50).

It was also South Africa's second lowest first-innings total at the Durban venue and means they must now hope for an even better bowling display to try and maintain their previous dominance in the series - they lead 1-0 after victory at Centurion.

The home side were already looking in trouble when they resumed after lunch with the score on 74 for four.

Despite looking so assured at the crease, Amla was surprised by a Harbhajan doosra, which he missed completely and was trapped leg before wicket.

Zaheer accounted for the out of sorts Ashwell Prince (13), bowling him via an inside edge to help reduce the home side to 100 for six.

That was followed by a stunning Rahul Dravid catch that helped Harbhajan account for Steyn (one) - the fielder diving one-handed to his left at slip and held on for his 200th Test catch.

Cheteshwar Pujara had a similar role to play for the off-break bowler's next wicket as dived to his right from short leg to take an equally admirable catch to get rid of Paul Harris for a duck.

Harbhajan then turned in some good work in the field when he ran to his left at fine leg and held on to a swirling ball to see off Morne Morkel (10).

The same bowler added a fourth wicket to end the innings - Lonwabo Tsotsobe (nought) caught by Murali Vijay at mid-wicket.

Earlier, the South Africans produced a clinical display to remove the last four Indian wickets for just 22 runs in 9.1 overs.

Resuming on their overnight 183 for six, Steyn completed his five-for in the fifth over of the day when Harbhajan (21) was caught by AB de Villiers, who threw himself to his right at third slip.

Zaheer (nought) handed Morkel his first wicket via a routine catch for Boucher as the hosts moved quickly through the tail.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35) took his side past 200, but was soon caught in the deep by Petersen again trying to hit out at Steyn.

Sreesanth (nought) was last man out when he top-edged Morkel to Boucher.

In reply, Zaheer inspired India and was rewarded in the fifth over when Graeme Smith (nine) edged to Dhoni.

He soon had a second wicket too, bowling Petersen (24) around his legs after the batsman shuffled across his stumps.

But Kallis (10) and Amla took the hosts past 50, before the former was caught short after a straight drive by the latter was diverted onto the stumps.

And De Villiers edged to Dhoni after a fine ball from Sreesanth, whose 5.4 overs went for 33, as the players went in to lunch.

Rahul Dravid becomes first to take 200 Test catches