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Ganguly, Laxman help lift India in third test |
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KANPUR, India, April 12 -
Saurav Ganguly top-scored with 87 to guide India to a
slender first innings lead against South Africa in the
third and final test on Saturday.
Ganguly was ninth out after South African bowlers kept
the pressure on a deteriorating pitch to reduce India to
288 for nine at stumps on the second day after the
tourists were bowled out for 265 in their first innings
on the first day.
Dale Steyn struck two quick blows as the South African
fast bowlers claimed three wickets for 11 runs after
claiming the second new ball in the final session.
India, needing victory to square the series, were 23
runs ahead with the last pair Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
(9) and Ishant Sharma together at stumps.
Bowlers continued to dominate on a dusty Green Park
pitch where some deliveries reared awkwardly from the
cracks, making every run invaluable.
Ganguly guided the lower order after Vangipurappu Laxman
scored a fluent 50 to revive the innings following the
cheap dismissals of openers Virender Sehwag (8) and
Wasim Jaffer (15).
Ganguly, who top-scored with 87 in the previous test
which India lost by an innings and 90 runs, played
solidly until he holed out Steyn to deep cover in a
desperate bid to reach his 16th century before he ran
out of partners.
He struck nine fours and a six off left-arm spinner Paul
Harris, adding 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Yuvraj
Singh and 60 for the next wicket with skipper Mahendra
Dhoni. Both made 32.
South African fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Steyn took
three wickets each, denying a big lead for India who
will also have to bat last on the powdery surface.
MORKEL STRIKES
Morkel, 23, removed Jaffer in the morning before
returning after lunch to claim Dravid and Laxman off his
successive overs.
Laxman added 78 runs for the third wicket with Dravid
(29) to raise Indian hopes but their dismissals made it
123 for four.
Laxman, batting at number four in the absence of the
injured Sachin Tendulkar, struck seven fours and was
dropped on 43 by Jacques Kallis at slip after the
batsman edged Harris.
Morkel first forced Dravid to glove a catch off a
pitched-up delivery which rose awkwardly to be caught at
gully, leaving the batsman rubbing his hand in pain as
he walked away.
Laxman reached his 33rd test fifty but Morkel bowled him
five balls later with a delivery which swung in as he
shaped to play to midwicket.
Yuvraj top-edged a sweep against Harris to be caught at
deep square leg but Ganguly went on to complete his 34th
test fifty.
He scored quickly with Dhoni until the wicketkeeper was
stumped trying a big heave against Harris, who took two
for 89.
Steyn, South Africa's leading bowler in the series, got
rid of Harbhajan Singh (6) and Ganguly with the second
new ball as three wickets fell for 11 runs towards the
end.
South Africa skipper Graeme Smith led the batting on day
one after electing to bat.
He top-scored with 69 and added 91 runs for the second
wicket with Hashim Amla (51) before young paceman Ishant
Sharma and off spinner Harbhajan Singh took three
wickets apiece to lead India's fightback and dismiss the
tourists at stumps. |
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