Tendulkar hit a majestic 146 as Dale Steyn tormented India's top order with one of the most lethal spells of fast bowling in recent history.
Tendulkar's 76-run stand with Harbhajan Singh (40) helped the tourists to 364.
Steyn ended with 5-75 before Harbhajan took two late wickets as the hosts finished the day on 52-2, a lead of 50.
Captain Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen had given South Africa an excellent start to their second innings with an opening stand of 50 before Smith was trapped lbw by the industrious Harbhajan.
And the off-spinner struck in the final over of the day when night-watchman Paul Harris also fell leg before offering no stroke to a ball which turned sharply in the rough outside off stump.
MOST CAREER TEST HUNDREDS
51: Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
39: Ricky Ponting (Aus), Jacques Kallis (SA)
34: Sunil Gavaskar (Ind), Brian Lara (WI)
32: Steve Waugh (Aus)
The late drama added yet another twist to an enthralling day of Test cricket on a scorching day at Newlands, with temperatures touching the late 30s under brilliant sunshine.
With the surface rapidly deteriorating and conditions still heavily in favour of the bowlers, the onus is now on South Africa's top order to set an intimidating target for India to chase.
However, South Africa must do so with first-innings centurion Jacques Kallis, who strained a stomach muscle on the second day, and will only bat if necessary to avoid compounding his injury.
Once again the action centred on a fascinating duel between the speed and guile of Steyn and the belligerence and brilliance of Tendulkar.
The morning session saw the world's number one Test bowler beat the bat with relentless ease, bowling unplayable outswingers to Tendulkar, while moving the ball back into left-hander Gautam Gambhir's pads at searing pace.
But despite his breath-taking brilliance, Steyn was continually frustrated by the Indian duo's inability to land an edge through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
No comments:
Post a Comment