South Africa struck early on day three of the second Test against India taking three wickets at Kingsmead on Tuesday morning, but at lunch India had accumulated a lead of 292 runs as VVS Laxman was still at the crease.
India resumed their second innings on 92for four with a lead of 166 runs, after South Africa had been dismissed for 131 on Monday.
Cheteshwar Pujara (10) departed without adding to his overnight score after a ball from Morne Morkel’s first over bounced higher than the batsman expected. It hit his bat close to the handle and trickled onto his stumps as South Africa got the early breakthrough they needed.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe took his third wicket of the innings when he got rid of Mahendra Singh Dhoni with an edge to Mark Boucher.
Morkel was in the action again to send Harbhajan Singh packing with an outside edge to Jacques Kallis at third slip.
Zaheer Khan survived an leg before wicket decision and a whack on the helmet from a Dale Steyn bouncer but was still there at lunch on 27, having reached 1 000 Test runs along the way.
India went into the break on 218 for seven with Laxman unbeaten on 86. He and Khan have shared a partnership of 70 runs, by far the highest of the match so far. — Sapa