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India edge ahead in Kanpur
12/04/2008 16:28 - (SA)
Kanpur - A magnificent half-century by Sourav Ganguly powered India to 288/9, a lead of 23 runs, against South Africa at stumps on the second day of the third Test at the Green Park in Kanpur on Saturday.
But a superb bowling effort by the attack on a very hot day saw South Africa grab four late wickets for just 40 runs as India wilted under the pressure and deteriorated from 248/5 to 288/9.
South Africa were dismissed for 265 on Friday and India have gained a first-innings lead of 23, a very valuable state of affairs on a pitch that is destined to give the spinners more and more assistance.
Ganguly featured in invaluable stands of 65 runs off 17.1 overs with Yuvraj Singh for the fifth wicket, and of 60 runs with Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the sixth wicket as the Indians grafted with a lot of skill and determination.
The partnership between Ganguly and Dhoni took India to 248/5 before Dhoni waltzed down the wicket and was stumped by Mark Boucher off the left-arm spinner Paul Harris.
Three more wickets in the last hour then helped South Africa's cause as the hosts slumped to 288/9. Sree Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma will resume on Sunday.
Credit to the South African attack, who toiled with enormous determination on an extremely hot day and got just reward in the final session.
Trapped
In the morning session, South Africa struck two quick blows with the new ball. Dale Steyn reduced India to 18/1 when he trapped Virender Sehwag leg before wicket.
Morne Morkel then trapped Wasim Jaffer leg before wicket for 15 as India wobbled on 35/2.
South Africa wasted the new ball somewhat and lacked consistency in line and length on a pitch on which inconsistent bounce was a feature on the first two days.
VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid then batted with determination to take India to 113 before a double strike by Morkel gave South Africa ascendancy.
Morkel produced a delivery that kicked and bounce from the rough and touched the glove of Dravid, from where it went to AB de Villiers in the gully, as India were reduced to 113/3.
Morkel produced an unplayable delivery, with reverse swing, that beat Laxman and bowled him as India slipped to 123/4.
Ganguly then took centre stage and played an attacking innings. He was superb against the left-arm spinner Paul Harris, and played fluently to all parts of the ground on a wicket that made the life of a stroke player exceedingly difficult because of the variable bounce.
Disapointment
Ganguly took the fight to the bowling attack on a very hot day and scored 39 runs off 39 deliveries bowled by Harris.
Harris bowled accurately at times, but just could not get the ball to turn or bounce past the batsmen, and his bowling was the major disappointment of an attack that bowled with heart, grit and fire.
Yuvraj batted positively before he was brilliantly caught by De Villiers at deep mid-wicket off Harris.
Steyn took 3/60 in 16 overs, and Morkel 3/57 in 13. Harris captured 2/89 off 29 overs. One catch was put down by Kallis at slip off Harris when Laxman had 48.
Teams:
India: MS Dhoni (c), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma, Sree Sreesanth.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
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Rugby
