India were bowled out for 169 in 64 overs in their second innings to set South Africa a target of 211 to win the series-deciding third cricket Test here on Friday.
Updated at 8.25 pm
CAPE TOWN: India were bowled out for 169 in 64 overs in their second innings to set South Africa a target of 211 to win the series-deciding third cricket Test here on Friday.
Brief scores
India: 414 and 169 all out in 64 overs (Dravid 47, Ganguly 46).
South Africa: 373.
Earlier, India recovered from the early loss of openers to take a 114-run lead against South Africa.
Virender Sehwag (4) and Wasim Jaffer (2) were dismissed cheaply but Rahul Dravid (30) and Sourav Ganguly (35) batted bravely to take India to 73 for 2 at lunch. The Indians had taken a 41-run first innings lead.
One incident of the morning though set tongues wagging when Sachin Tendulkar failed to appear at the ground after the fall of Jaffer's wicket at his usual number four spot.
As no batsman appeared in sight, the South Africans drew the attention of umpires on "timing out" the batsman since the rule stipulates that a new batsman must replace the dismissed one within three minutes.
No Indian batsman appeared on the ground for nearly six minutes but no appeal was made against him because umpires told the South African team that it was their fault.
Apparently, Tendulkar could not have come out to bat till 10.48 am because of the time he had spent out of the ground during South Africa's first innings.
According to Indian team's spokesman, Tendulkar was padded up to go into the middle before the fourth umpire informed about the situation.
VVS Laxman, apparently, was padding up in bathroom and since word could not reach him, it was Ganguly who walked out to join his skipper.
It seemed to turn out to be a blessing in disguise as Ganguly soon took control even though there could be a lot of heart burning within the South African ranks about the manner the issue was handled by umpires.
Umpires' mistake or not, the rule stipulates that a batsman be given out if an appeal is made and in this case a wicket perhaps was denied to the hosts.
The third wicket pair of Dravid and Ganguly then took on the hosts with belligerence and tactical intelligence, running hard between the wickets and upsetting the fielders with some well-placed shots.
Ganguly essayed his typically silken offdrives while Dravid was fluent on both sides of the wicket as India made light of the early losses.
Sehwag, restored to his opener's position, began with an aggressive flick but then chased a wide delivery from Dale Steyn to be out caught behind and a few deliveries later it was Jaffer who gloved a catch off Makhaya Ntini into the hands of AB de Villiers in the slips.
Brief scores
India: 414 and 73 for 2 in 25 overs (Dravid batting 30, Ganguly batting 35; Steyn 1-15, Ntini 1-24).
South Africa: 373.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}