Ganguly's counter-attack keeps India afloat
India managed to keep themselves afloat in the crucial third and final cricket Test against South Africa here with Sourav Ganguly leading a gutsy counter-attack on a track which will make batting more tricky in the coming days.
By PTI |
KANPUR: India managed to keep themselves afloat in the crucial third and final cricket Test against South Africa here on Saturday with Sourav Ganguly leading a gutsy counter-attack on a track which will make batting more tricky in the coming days.
The hosts recovered from a jittery 123 for four, in response to South Africa's first innings total of 265, to finish the second day on 288 for nine, managing a slender lead of 23 runs with one wicket in hand.
The elegant Ganguly held the innings together with a strokeful 87 off 119 balls while VVS Laxman (50), Yuvraj Singh (32) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (32) chipped in with useful contributions in what turned out to be an engrossing battle between bat and ball.
The Indians have achieved the first task of overhauling South Africa's total but the match was still evenly poised as the hosts, who need to win the match to level the series 1-1, could not get a substantial lead to take firm control.
With three days left, the last wicket pair of S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma need to try and increase the lead on the under-prepared Green Park track.
When play began this morning, the Indian openers had the task of providing a solid platform but did not succeed.
Dale Steyn, who generated a fair amount of pace in his first spell, drew first blood for the visitors by getting rid of the dangerous Sehwag who could hang around for just 21 minutes at the crease.
Sehwag was trapped leg before by a delivery which was angled into the right-hander and the Indian opener hardly moved his feet to be trapped plumb in front
The hosts recovered from a jittery 123 for four, in response to South Africa's first innings total of 265, to finish the second day on 288 for nine, managing a slender lead of 23 runs with one wicket in hand.
The elegant Ganguly held the innings together with a strokeful 87 off 119 balls while VVS Laxman (50), Yuvraj Singh (32) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (32) chipped in with useful contributions in what turned out to be an engrossing battle between bat and ball.
The Indians have achieved the first task of overhauling South Africa's total but the match was still evenly poised as the hosts, who need to win the match to level the series 1-1, could not get a substantial lead to take firm control.
With three days left, the last wicket pair of S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma need to try and increase the lead on the under-prepared Green Park track.
When play began this morning, the Indian openers had the task of providing a solid platform but did not succeed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dale Steyn, who generated a fair amount of pace in his first spell, drew first blood for the visitors by getting rid of the dangerous Sehwag who could hang around for just 21 minutes at the crease.
Sehwag was trapped leg before by a delivery which was angled into the right-hander and the Indian opener hardly moved his feet to be trapped plumb in front
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
