India sets South Africa a decent target
India has been dismissed for 228 runs in their second innings of the second Test match against South Africa at Durban.
The hosts will now have to chase down 303 runs with over two days remaining in the match.
The Indian team took a 74-run lead in the first innings after bowling out http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 was dismissed for 32 runs off just 31 balls,
India lost wickets in a flurry. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid fell cheaply soon after.
India was 56 for four when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 walked into bat. He along with Cheteshwar Pujara made sure that India saw through the rest of day 2 with no further losses. At close of play, India were 92 for four and the overall lead was 166 runs.
When http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 then continued to build the lead with Laxman. Dhoni then got out for 21 runs and soon after him,
Harbhajan Singh returned to the pavilion.
Laxman did not lose focus at all and continued to score runs. He got support from Zaheer Khan who managed 27 runs giving a 70-run partnership to India. Until lunch, India looked very strong as they had a 292-run lead. Soon after the lunch break, India lost
the final three wickets for 10 runs.
Laxman missed out on his century. He was the last man to be dismissed for 96 runs. He played a key role to give India an overall lead of 302 runs.
The South African bowlers were good again and all the bowlers chipped in with wickets. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn also contributed with two wickets.
The match will definitely have a result as there is plenty of play left. India will be disappointed to a certain extent as they were not able to gain the maximum advantage of the 74-run first innings lead.
South Africa will fancy their chances as the total is well within their reach. They will be looking forward to improve on the mistakes they made in the first innings and chase down the total to win the series.
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