Harbhajan gives India an edge in third Test (Lunch report)
By IANSWednesday, January 5, 2011
CAPE TOWN - Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh picked up two crucial wickets to leave South Africa struggling at 121 for five in the second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the third and final cricket Test here Wednesday.
South African batsmen struggled to adjust to the cracking pitch at the Newlands, but an injured Jacques Kallis waged a fight with an unbeaten 33 along with Ashwell Prince (15 batting) as the hosts extended their lead to 119. South Africa made 362 runs in the first innings and bowled out India for 364.
Harbhajan, who picked up two wickets Tuesday, kept the batsmen guessing by getting the ball to turn from the rough. He got good support from Zaheer Khan and S. Sreesanth, who bowled a disciplined line and length, from the other end. The pressure exerted by Indian bowlers helped them pick up three wickets for 69 runs in the first session of the day.
Harbhajan struck with his fifth ball to dismiss Alviro Petersen, who went back to play on the leg side but a sharp off-break hit his pad and he returned to the pavilion without adding anything to his overnight score of 22.
The off-spinner was again on target in his next over and rattled the wickets of Hashim Amla (2). Amla tried to sweep Harbhajan, but the ball hit his pads and bounced to hit his middle stump — South Africa were reduced to 64 for four.
Battling a strained side, first-innings centurion Kallis kept the scoreboard moving and reverse-swept Harbhajan for two fours. With AB de Villiers (13), Kallis added 34 runs for the fifth wicket.
Zaheer struck with an in-swinger to remove De Villiers, who was in two minds whether to play a shot and delayed in pulling out the bat and was played down.
