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Sehwag strikes leave SA reeling
13/04/2008 12:02 - (SA)
Kanpur - Virender Sehwag grabbed
two quick wickets to put India firmly in command of the third
and final Test against South Africa on Sunday, lifting the home
side's hopes of squaring the series.
The occasional off-spinner claimed key batsman Jacques
Kallis (15) with his first delivery and bowled skipper Graeme
Smith around his legs for 35 to end their stubborn resistance
on an unpredictable Green Park pitch on the third afternoon.
At tea, South Africa were reeling at 88 for four, just 28
runs ahead on a pitch where some deliveries either kicked up or
scooted through.
India, needing victory to avoid a series defeat, continued
to build on the advantage gained after extending their first
innings to 325 in the morning - an invaluable 60-run lead.
After struggling to lunch on 27-2, Smith and Kallis set
about reviving the innings, using skill and patience to avoid
the fielders crowded around the bat but were only able to add
38 runs in almost 90 minutes.
Smith left stunned
They had just wiped out the arrears when Sehwag, brought on
after the regular bowlers could not break through, struck.
Kallis, South Africa's leading batsman, failed to control a
spinning delivery and offered a simple catch to Wasim Jaffer at
forward shortleg, making it 65-3.
Smith was left stunned seven runs later when a harmless
delivery down the legside spun in sharply to hit the stumps and
end his three-and-half hour vigil.
Sehwag's figures read 2-8 from five overs.
Earlier, fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth trapped
opener Neil McKenzie (14) leg before and Harbhajan Singh had
Hashim Amla (0) caught in the cordon soon after South Africa
began their second innings.
Sreesanth had inspired a gutsy last-wicket stand to ensure
India forged a crucial lead in the morning.
He and last man Ishant Sharma put on 46 runs together
before India were dismissed an hour into play in reply to South
Africa's first innings 265.
Sreesanth was out for 29 and Sharma remained unbeaten on 14
after seeing off 13.3 overs together, leaving the South African
attack frustrated on a pitch where runs are hard to come by.
Saurav Ganguly top-scored for India with a superb 87 on the
second day after Vangipurappu Laxman hit 50, the duo providing
useful partnerships down the batting order.
Pacemen Dale Steyn, Morkel and spinner Paul Harris claimed
three wickets each.
India lost the second test by an innings and 90 runs after
the first test in Chennai ended in a high-scoring draw.
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