India gain control with two early wickets

Sunday April 13, 12:28 PM

By N.Ananthanarayanan

KANPUR, India (Reuters) - South Africa lost two quick wickets in their second innings to give India the upper hand on an unpredictable pitch when the teams went to lunch on day three of the third test on Sunday.

Fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth trapped opener Neil McKenzie (14) leg before and off spinner Harbhajan Singh had Hashim Amla (0) caught in the close cordon in the next over as the visitors reached the interval on 27 for two.

Skipper Graeme Smith was 10 not out with South Africa still needing 33 runs to wipe out India's first innings lead on a Green Park pitch where deliveries rose awkwardly or scooted through.

Sreesanth had earlier inspired a gutsy last-wicket stand to ensure India forged a crucial 60-run first innings lead in the morning.

He and last man Ishant Sharma put on 46 runs together before India were dismissed for 325 an hour into play in reply to South Africa's first innings 265.

Sreesanth was out for 29 and Sharma remained unbeaten on 14 after seeing off 13.3 overs together, leaving the South African attack frustrated on a pitch where runs are hard to come by.

McKenzie was shaky during his brief stay at the crease and was beaten attempting to pull a delivery which nipped back.

Amla offered a timid bat-pad catch to forward short leg.

India resumed on 288-9 and the last two men dug in to frustrate Smith, who was forced to rotate his bowlers in a bid to end the innings.

Number 10 batsman Sreesanth was caught off a no ball from fast bowler Morne Morkel before he eventually drove left-arm spinner Paul Harris into the hands of Ashwell Prince at short extra cover.

He hit five fours in his one-hour effort, boosting India's hopes of a victory that would square the series.

Saurav Ganguly top-scored for India with a superb 87 on the second day after Vangipurappu Laxman hit 50, the duo providing useful partnerships down the batting order.

Pacemen Dale Steyn, Morkel and spinner Harris claimed three wickets each.

India lost the second test by an innings and 90 runs after the first test in Chennai ended in a high-scoring draw.

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