CRICKET:A GRIMLY determined Gautam Gambhir and a serene Sachin Tendulkar took India to 142 for two at stumps on the second day of the deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town yesterday.

After Jacques Kallis had struck a masterful 161 to lift the hosts to 362 all out, Gambhir survived three chances to reach 65 not out and Tendulkar showed all the experience of his 176 Tests to get to stumps on 49.

The pair shared a vital third-wicket stand of 114 in nearly three hours after India had slumped to 28 for two shortly before tea, leaving the match in the balance as top-ranked India seek their first series win in South Africa.

Talismanic opening batsman Virender Sehwag made only 13 before South Africa captain Graeme Smith dived forward to scoop up a low catch at mid-off after the batsman tried to drive an away-swinger from Dale Steyn.

Rahul Dravid was run out in bizarre fashion for five. Gambhir edged a drive off left-arm seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe to gully, where Alviro Petersen was unable to hold a difficult diving catch. But AB de Villiers reacted quickly, sliding to stop the ball, quickly getting back to his feet and throwing down the stumps as Dravid attempted a quick single.

India earlier struggled to kill off the South African as the last two wickets added 79 runs with Kallis well supported by tailenders Paul Harris and Tsotsobe.

The touring side, seeking their first series win in South Africa, looked set to bowl the hosts out when Shanthakumaran Sreesanth struck twice in his first over with the new ball.

Sreesanth bowled Ashwell Prince for 47 with a magnificent ball that jagged back sharply to hit the left-hander’s off-stump and the next delivery nipped away to have Mark Boucher caught behind for a golden duck.

Sreesanth added the wicket of Morne Morkel, caught behind for eight edging a wild drive, in a marvellous spell of three for 29 that gave him his third five-wicket haul in his 24th Test.

But the fiery paceman also incurred the umpires’ wrath for his continual verbal sniping at the batsmen.

Zaheer Khan chipped in with the wicket of Steyn, caught behind for a duck, but Kallis found the support he was seeking from the obdurate Harris. The lanky spinner hung around for 55 minutes in scoring seven as 27 runs were added for the ninth wicket.