India struggling at 103/3, Prince hits 121

Wednesday December 27, 11:09 PM

Durban, Dec 27 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar (46) and V.V.S. Laxman (10) were at the crease as India were struggling at 103/3 in their first innings when bad light forced an early closure of the second day's play in the second Test against South Africa here Wednesday.

Earlier, the South African first innings folded for 328, thanks mainly to Ashwell Prince's gutsy 121. Sreesanth was the most successful Indian bowler, claiming four wickets for 109 while Anil Kumble picked up three for 62.

Only 30 minutes of play were possible after the tea break and more than 30 overs of play were lost.

India were on the back foot after a staunch rearguard effort by the South African lower order and this was backed up by some sharp bowling when the visitors began their knock.

Three Indian batsmen were back in the pavilion with the score on 93, still 235 behind. Even though the wicket had eased out, India were struggling, having lost a couple of early wickets and then being put under pressure.

Opener Virender Sehwag was out for a duck when he offered a thick edge to an Andre Nel delivery and A.B. de Villiers took a stunning catch in the slips in the very first over.

Rahul Dravid (11) and Wasim Jaffer (26) started the construction work but the Indian captain departed when he was trapped leg before wicket by Nel.

Tendulkar walked out to the middle and immediately calmed the nerves. Although the runs did not quite come as quickly as India would have liked, Tendulkar and Jaffer batted with assurance, leaving the ball alone with ease, and occasionally pulling out a stunning shot.

Jaffer spent more than two hours at the crease, patient for the best part but departed when he offered an easy catch to De Villiers in the slips off Makhaya Ntini.

Tendulkar got a reprieve when he was on 21 after South African captain Graeme Smith spilled an easy chance in the slips off Andrew Hall.

Earlier, South Africa clawed their way back into the match after Prince completed his century with an excellent drive through the covers, taking South Africa close to the 300-run mark.

But the Indians were forced to work hard even after Prince was dismissed as debutant Morne Morkel and Ntini added a vital 32 runs for the last wicket.

SCOREBOARD

2nd Test, Day 2, India vs South Africa, Kingsmead, Durban, Dec 27

South Africa (1st innings):

Graeme Smith c Tendulkar b Khan 5

A.B. de Villiers c Tendulkar b Sreesanth 9

Hashim Amla lbw b Khan 1

Herschelle Gibbs c Dhoni b Sreesanth 63

Ashwell Prince not out 121

Mark Boucher b Sreesanth 53

Shaun Pollock c Sehwag b Singh 11

Andrew Hall lbw Kumble 0

Andre Nel b Kumble 0

Morne Morkel not out 31

Makhaya Ntini lbw Kumble 16

Extras: (lb 3, w 1, nb 14) 18

Total: (all out in 91.3 overs) 328

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Smith, 2.4 overs), 2-13 (Amla, 6.2), 3-28 (de Villiers, 12.3), 4-122 (Gibbs, 35.2), 5-222 (Boucher, 63.6), 6-256 (Pollock, 71.3), 7-257 (Hall, 72.2), 8-257 (Nel, 72.5), 9-296 (Prince, 82.3)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 23-7-83-2 (4nb, 1w)

Sreesanth 24-4-109-4 (3nb)

Vikram Raj Vir Singh 13-1-60-1 (3nb)

Anil Kumble 28.3-1-62-3 (2nb)

Sourav Ganguly 3-1-11-0 (2nb)

India (1st innings):

Wasim Jaffer c de Villiers b Ntini 26

Virender Sehwag c de Villiers b Nel 0

Rahul Dravid lbw Nel 11

Sachin Tendulkar batting 46

V.V.S. Laxman batting 10