CRICKET NEWS:SACHIN TENDULKAR hit a century and Dale Steyn grabbed five wickets to set the platform for a scintillating day three of the third Test at Newlands, which ended with two late Harbhajan Singh wickets reducing South Africa to 52 for two.
It meant the hosts had an overall lead of 50 after dismissing India for 364 shortly after tea – a total that was built around an excellent 51st Test century for Tendulkar (146).
The veteran batsman was on the receiving end of some fine bowling from Steyn, who produced the most hostile spells witnessed in the series so far to end with five for 75.
However, Tendulkar dug in and, together with Gautam Gambhir (93) and Harbhajan (40), helped India reply with a total just ahead of the home side’s 362.
South Africa began the reply in positive fashion, reaching 50 without loss, but the departure of captain Graeme Smith (29) and nightwatchman Paul Harris for a duck allowed the tourists to finish a drama-filled day on a high.
The Indians, who resumed on 142 for two, had a scare in the first over when an edge from Tendulkar to Mark Boucher was not spotted by either umpire Ian Gould or Steyn, although the ball did appear to bounce millimetres before being caught.
India’s star batsman then went past 50, with the 150 raised shortly afterward, but both he and Gambhir had plenty of luck as the ball constantly beat the bat and edges flew wide of fielders.
With Steyn out of the attack and Morne Morkel tiring, the runs started to come more freely – the 150 partnership brought up from 302 deliveries, followed by the team’s 200 in the 69th over – despite Lonwabo Tsotsobe also impressing.
The breakthrough finally arrived, though, through the spin of Harris – the slow left-armer drawing Gambhir into a prod outside off stump with the edge gratefully held by Boucher, who had dropped a difficult chance the ball before.
There was some fortune in the next wicket, which came minutes before lunch as Tendulkar’s straight drive was deflected onto the stumps as Harris let a sharp chance through his fingers, leaving VVS Laxman (15) stranded and India 237 for four at the break.
With the new ball in operation thereafter, Steyn took out Cheteshwar Pujara (two), before Tendulkar extended his record century mark in Tests with a top-edged six off Morkel to raise his ton.
When Steyn returned for his second over, he accounted for Mahendra Singh Dhoni (nought) and then in his fourth over the South Africans were adamant that they had Harbhajan and were livid that umpire Gould did not give him out caught behind.
However, replays showed the Englishman was spot on as Steyn’s ball took the off stump rather than an edge on its way through to Boucher.
With the quick men slowly tiring and the ball getting older, the home side seemed to lose intensity as the 50 partnership came up from 97 balls, along with the 300 in the 101st over.
Tendulkar’s innings eventually ended on 146 when Morkel went through his defences and the ball clipped the top of off stump.
Steyn’s fiery efforts were then rewarded when Ishant Sharma (one) fended a bouncer to Boucher and Zaheer (23) was last man out just as India edged into a two-run lead.
In reply, Smith and Alviro Petersen (22 not out) quietly went about their business as South Africa went past 50 in the 14th over. But in the same Harbhajan over, the South Africa captain was out leg before wicket and then Harris fell 10 deliveries later, also lbw, to set up a tense last two days.
