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Indian chase in early trouble

S. Dinakar

TRAPPED: Zaheer Khan appeals successfully for an lbw verdict against Graeme Smith on Wednesday. — PHOTO: AP

Port Elizabeth: South Africa ran into choppy waters. And Herschelle Gibbs dropped anchor for his side in this port city.

Then, when the lights were switched on at St. George's park, Makhaya Ntini's speed and Shaun Pollock's cut jolted India on the chase in the fourth MTN series match here on Wednesday.

Gibbs's valuable, unbeaten 93 (123b, 8x4) enabled South Africa reach a competitive 243 for eight. The innings revolved on Gibbs. Under pressure to perform, he constructed an effort of substance and occasion0al flair.

Wasim Jaffer edged a furiously fast Ntini delivery to first slip. Sachin Tendulkar nicked a lovely away going ball from Pollock for 'keeper Mark Boucher to take a brilliant catch. Stand-in captain Virender Sehwag was sensationally caught by Loots Bosman at mid-wicket off Ntini. Mohammed Kaif was run out, in a rather comical fashion.

India, 54 for four in 15 overs, was staring at a series defeat. M.S. Dhoni, who slammed Jacques Kallis through the covers, and a battling Dinesh Karthik were at the crease.

In a hole

The host was in a hole at 155 for six when the in-form Justin Kemp cut, fatally, a short ball from Tendulkar. Earlier, Mark Boucher's cameo was terminated when skipper Sehwag spun one into the right-hander. In the absence of a second specialist spinner, the part-time spinners filled in well towards the end.

However, South Africa once again found the men for the occasion. Gibbs and the free-stroking Pollock (37, 43b) added a crucial han61 runs for the seventh wicket in 10.5 overs.

Pollock was run-out searching for an elusive run. But Andrew Hall struck a few hefty blows towards the end. India performed better in the slog overs, with Sehwag cleverly mixing pace and spin. Still, South Africa had given itself a chance.

Graeme Smith won his third successive toss. He soon suffered his third straight failure with the willow. Zaheer Khan, nipping the ball back from over the wicket, trapped him in front.

For a change, Zaheer had a worthy new ball partner. Sreesanth finally got a game and he made his first spell count. The pitch was on the slower side, but Sreesanth speed through the air made him a threat.

Loots Bosman had little clue about a swinging, pacey, full length delivery that rearranged woodwork. Sreesanth had struck.

Keeping up the pressure

Sreesanth kept the pressure up from the other end — something that was lacking in Newlands.

The paceman bowled up the hill and could have consumed Gibbs off a pull early on, had not umpire B. Jerling — rightly — signalled no-ball. Gibbs, along with Kallis, rebuilt the innings after the openers had not troubled the scorers.

Kallis counter-attacked, punishing the slightest error of length or line. The first spell figures of Zaheer (6-1-26-1) and Sreesanth (5-1-16-1) would have read better, but for Kallis's exquisite strokeplay.

When Ajit Agarkar replaced Sreesanth, Sehwag had five fielders in the off-side ring — point, cover point, cover, extra-cover and mid-off — for Kallis but he still found the gap.

At the other end, Gibbs cut out the frills and focussed on building an innings.

Kumble bowled with accuracy and craft in the Power Play overs. On 49, Kallis committed the folly of attempting to cut a delivery too close to his body from the leg-spinner and paid the price. Kumble's guile was once again on display. After Abraham de Villiers had struck him over long off for a six, he nailed the batsman on the sweep with the next delivery, a fuller, straighter ball, quicker ball.

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