The experienced Jacques Kallis struck 161 to steer South Africa to a competitive 362 all out in their first innings in the series-deciding third Test against India here on Monday.
In reply, India were struggling at 49 for two at tea on the second day with Gautam Gambhir (22) and Sachin Tendulkar (8) being at the crease.
While Kallis anchored the innings brilliantly with his 39th Test ton, the last two South African batsmen also chipped in with useful partnerships to give a decent total, which looked doubtful at one stage with the hosts reeling at 283 for eight.
India started positively with the dashing Virender Sehwag hitting Morne Morkel for two boundaries in the second over. But Sehwag’s aggression was short-lived as he again fell early, giving the South Africans the much-needed breakthrough.
After smacking Dale Steyn for a boundary in the previous delivery, lack of feet movement again did Sehwag in as he went for a half-hearted drive in the next only to find Smith in mid-off, who dived forward to take the catch inches from the ground.
Dravid, who joined the action after Sehwag’s dismissal, tried to play cautiously against the South Africans speedsters to ensure that there were no further setbacks, but that was only for a while. Ironically, it was a dropped chance off Gambhir which led to Dravid being run out to leave India at a precarious 28 for two.
Gambhir tried to punch a Tsotsobe delivery off the back foot, got a thick outside edge but was dropped at gully. A B de Villiers, who was fielding at slips, ran for the ball and dislodged the stumps at the striker’s end with a direct hit to run out Dravid who was attempting to take a single.
Resuming at the tea score of 335 for nine, the last wicket pair of Kallis and Tsotsobe frustrated the Indians by not only hanging around much too long but piling up the rains to put the visitors on the backfoot.
It was the experienced Zaheer who finally brought an end to the agony by breaking the last wicket partnership, which yielded 52 vital runs for the hosts. Zaheer evicted Kallis with a ball, which moved away from the off-stump and the batsman tried to cut it but only succeeded in edging the ball to keeper Dhoni. Kallis’ knock of 161 came off 291 balls and contained 19 boundaries.
Sreesanth was the pick of the India bowlers with five for 114 while pace spearhead Zaheer Khan (3/89) and Ishant Sharma (2/77) were the other wicket-takers.
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