South Africa need another 233 runs to win (Tea Report)
By IANSTuesday, December 28, 2010
DURBAN - Captain Graeme Smith led the chase with a quickfire 37 as South Africa raced to 70 for one in their second innings at tea, chasing a target of 303, against India on the third day of the second cricket Test here Tuesday.
Alviro Petersen was batting on 24 and Hashim Amla at six at the tea break at the Kingsmead Stadium as South Africa needed another 233 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Smith struck five fours in his 38-ball knock and opened the run chase with two boundaries off Zaheer Khan in the first over. In his next over, Khan was again at the receiving end as Smith again hit two fours.
South Africa were scoring runs at more than five per over and when it looked that the run chase would be over quickly, Sreesanth struck in the last over before tea with a short ball. Smith mistimed his pull and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni did well to run towards the square leg and caught the skier.
Earlier in the day, V.V.S. Laxman (96) and Zaheer Khan (27) defied the South African attack with a valuable 70-run partnership for the eighth wicket as India’s second innings folded for 228 runs.
After the morning session in which India lost three wickets, Laxman and Zaheer turned the heat on South African bowlers.
Morne Morkel (3-47) took two wickets in the morning while Lonwabo Tsotsobe (3-43) dismissed Mahendra Singh Dhoni (21) to reduce India to 148 for seven after the visitors resumed at 92 for four.
Cheteshwar Pujara (10) was the first to go as he was unable to properly fend off a steep Morkel bouncer that climbed on him. Dhoni, after playing some attacking shots, poked at a wide delivery and was caught behind. Harbhajan (4) was caught by Kallis off Morkel in the second slip.
At that stage, it looked Laxman would soon run out of partners and a lead in excess of 250 unlikely. But Zaheer, after playing some rash shots, settled down with Laxman farming the strike.
Laxman, who is experienced in playing with the tailenders, played some exquisite shots, stroking 12 fours in 171 balls.
