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India snatches a slender lead

Nandita Sridhar

Ganguly anchors the innings after the departure of Dravid and Laxman

— Photo: S. Subramanium

FOXED: M.S. Dhoni played a typically hard-hitting knock, but tried one too many off Paul Harris, and Mark Boucher did the rest.

Kanpur: On a day that matched the activity of the previous one, India managed a lead of 23 runs, finishing at 288 for nine at close. Sourav Ganguly made a courageous, defiant 87 that turned a possible deficit into a lead of limited, yet definite possibilities.

Ganguly walked in needing to build on what V.V.S. Laxman, who made 50, and Rahul Dravid had constructed thus far. The first few balls were untouched for the pitch to disclose its intent, but an edge through slips was worrying. The innings took the form it did once he settled.

Morne Morkel, who had managed pace, movement and bounce, was flicked through the leg-side for a boundary. The feet worked against Paul Harris.

An attempted drive off Dale Steyn wasn’t taken by Neil McKenzie, but it was, in all fairness, a difficult chance.

The left-hander’s courage was backed by grace. Until he yielded to unease by pulling Steyn, his hitting was smooth and the balance impeccable.

Century denied

The innings promised more. A deserved century was denied by urgency and a looming No.11. Hashim Amla rewarded Steyn at extra cover.

Yuvraj Singh and M.S. Dhoni had pitched in to support Ganguly. Yuvraj had some luck himself, when an appeal for lbw by Amla was turned down by umpire Asad Rauf. The left-hander’s two boundaries off Steyn were forceful. The first one was powered through square-leg, and the next through mid-wicket.

Yuvraj attempted a sweep off Harris that didn’t turn out as expected, giving de Villiers a flat catch.

Dhoni displayed daring briefly with some hard hitting, but an adventurous swing at Harris was an easy stumping for Mark Boucher.

Ganguly’s exit came after the lead was managed, but his innings followed a crucial period of batting by Laxman and Dravid. Unlike the South Africans who played rather late, these two were forward bound to Harris. Laxman’s handling of Harris was a delight. He repeatedly took him on against the turn and whipped him through mid-wicket. Dravid furiously cut Kallis, his bat coming down like axe on wood, for boundaries. Morkel who made best use of the uneven bounce, was driven straight for four by Laxman. The characteristic high-elbowed drive wasn’t spared, but India could have paid for Laxman’s quest for elegance when on 107 for two. Kallis couldn’t hold on at slips.

Batsmen wary

The boundaries were not to suggest that the batsmen were at ease throughout. Both shouldered arms to the fast bowlers, despite threats of low bounce.

Morkel benefited from the uneven bounce, when he pitched one on good length that venomously climbed on to Dravid. The batsman was left writhing in pain as the ball smacked the end of his glove to reach de Villiers.

Soon enough, in what was the day’s quality delivery, Morkel got one swinging in towards Laxman who had ventured his bat towards the leg-side. He missed completely for the ball to knock the bails off, and reward Morkel for his perseverance.

Despite their dismissals, Laxman and Dravid had saved India from potential disgrace after the openers fell quickly. Variable bounce had Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer in doubt. Though South Africa’s opening bowlers began erratically, there was danger in complacency.

Steyn peppered Sehwag with short deliveries but the fuller one left the batsman in a near immobile defence. The earlier delivery that had found a crack and very nearly Sehwag, had an impact on the batsman that wore on. Jaffer failed in his leg-side attempt off Morkel, to be dismised leg-before.

The Indian middle-order accomplished what the openers could not. If the wicket seemed less explosive than it was on day one, the batting had something to do with it.

India’s lead isn’t substantial by any margin, but there is hope for the bowlers on day three. Before that, Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma will hope to stretch the lead.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa - 1st innings: 265

India - 1st innings: W. Jaffer lbw b Morkel 15, V. Sehwag lbw b Steyn 8, R. Dravid c de Villiers b Morkel 29, V.V.S. Laxman b Morkel 50, S. Ganguly c Amla b Steyn 87, Yuvraj c de Villiers b Harris 32, M.S. Dhoni st.Boucher b Harris 32, Harbhajan lbw b Steyn 6, P. Chawla c Smith b Ntini 4, S. Sreesanth (batting) 9, Ishant Sharma (batting) 0; Extras (b-8, lb-4, w-1,nb-3): 16; Total (for nine wkts. in 88 overs): 288.

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Sehwag), 2-35 (Jaffer), 3-113 (Dravid), 4-123 (Laxman), 5-188 (Yuvraj), 6-248 (Dhoni),7-268 (Harbhajan), 8-279 (Chawla),9-279 (Ganguly).

South Africa bowling: Steyn 16-1-60-3, Ntini 19-6-41-1, Morkel 13-1-57-3, Harris 29-7-89-2, Kallis 9-1-23-0, Amla 2-0-6-0.

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