South Africa slump after Smith falls

Friday April 11, 02:49 PM

testing dirtying

By N.Ananthanarayanan

KANPUR, India (Reuters) - Captain Graeme Smith fell for 69 to trigger a batting slump before South Africa reached 175 for four at tea on the first day of the third test against India on Friday.

India's bowlers grabbed three wickets for nine runs to produce a good fightback after Smith had led a solid start by the touring side who chose to bat on a dry pitch at Green Park.

Ashwell Prince (10) and AB de Villiers (three) were not out at the interval.

Smith added 91 runs with Hashim Amla, who made 51, after the visitors reached a solid 80 for one at lunch on a pitch where the ball spun and jumped off the rough.

He reached his third fifty of the series before part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh forced the left-hander to offer a bat-pad catch to a diving Wasim Jaffer at forward short leg.

Smith had displayed fine temperament until then, hitting eight fours and two sixes in his three-hour knock. Amla and key batsman Jacques Kallis (one) then fell in successive overs, both playing the ball on to their stumps.

Amla was foxed by a sharp inswinging delivery from tall paceman Ishant Sharma which deflected off his thigh to clip the bail while Kallis's defensive shot rolled on to the stumps.

India suffered a blow when skipper Anil Kumble was ruled out because of a groin injury, denting their hopes of forcing the win they need to level the series.

Nineteen-year-old leg spinner Piyush Chawla was included for only his second test, one of three changes to the side who lost the second test by an innings and 90 runs.

Chawla struck with fifth delivery in the morning to have opener Neil McKenzie stumped for 36.

Wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni took over as captain for the first time in tests.

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