The second Castle Lager Test between South Africa and India at India took another twist on the fourth day on Friday when South Africa suffered a dramatic batting collapse to go to lunch on 192 for six. They have an overall lead of 280.
Led by the exuberant youngster Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, India claimed six wickets for the addition of just 44 runs in nine overs and two balls.
South Africa resumed play on their overnight score of 64 without loss, and Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers took their opening partnership to within one run of the first century partnership of the series.
De Villiers was within sight of his 11th Test half century when he edged a delivery from Vikram Singh to VVS Laxman for 47.
His wicket precipitated the collapse, with Hashim Amla given out lbw to Sreesanth without scoring in the following over.
Graeme Smith reached his 15th Test 50, to the delight of the crowd and his many supporters.
He had batted for two and a half hours and faced 77 deliveries, and while it was not the prettiest, he will have been relieved to have spent some time in the middle.
But four balls later, a Sreesanth ball nipped back and knocked off the bails. A disappointed Smith trudged back to the pavilion with his score on 58.
The hero of South Africa’s first innings, centurion Ashwell Prince, was not destined to repeat his earlier heroics ‒- he was Sreesanth’s third victim of the morning when he was caught by Sourav Ganguly without scoring, after facing just three balls.
Mark Boucher lasted just over half an hour before he was out lbw to Zaheer Khan for seven, and India had seized control.
But in a Test of twists and turns, an unbeaten seventh wicket partnership of 49 between Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall brought South Africa back into the game.
The afternoon session promises to be intriguing. – Sapa