Sehwag strikes leave South Africa reeling

Sunday April 13, 03:07 PM

By N.Ananthanarayanan

KANPUR, India (Reuters) - Virender Sehwag grabbed two quick wickets to put India firmly in command of the third and final test against South Africa on Sunday, lifting the home side's hopes of squaring the series.

The occasional off-spinner claimed key batsman Jacques Kallis (15) with his first delivery and bowled skipper Graeme Smith around his legs for 35 to end their stubborn resistance on an unpredictable Green Park pitch on the third afternoon.

At tea, South Africa were reeling at 88 for four, just 28 runs ahead on a pitch where some deliveries either kicked up or scooted through.

India, needing victory to avoid a series defeat, continued to build on the advantage gained after extending their first innings to 325 in the morning -- an invaluable 60-run lead.

After struggling to lunch on 27-2, Smith and Kallis set about reviving the innings, using skill and patience to avoid the fielders crowded around the bat but were only able to add 38 runs in almost 90 minutes.

They had just wiped out the arrears when Sehwag, brought on after the regular bowlers could not break through, struck.

Kallis, South Africa's leading batsman, failed to control a spinning delivery and offered a simple catch to Wasim Jaffer at forward shortleg, making it 65-3.

Smith was left stunned seven runs later when a harmless delivery down the legside spun in sharply to hit the stumps and end his three-and-half hour vigil.

Sehwag's figures read 2-8 from five overs.

Earlier, fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth trapped opener Neil McKenzie (14) leg before and Harbhajan Singh had Hashim Amla (0) caught in the cordon soon after South Africa began their second innings.

Sreesanth had inspired a gutsy last-wicket stand to ensure India forged a crucial lead in the morning.

He and last man Ishant Sharma put on 46 runs together before India were dismissed 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.

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 Paul 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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