Cricket Update: Laxman innings helps India in setting a challenging target for South Africa in Durban Test
Laxman scored an impressive 96 to help India in setting a competitive target for the South Africans on the third day of the Durban Test. Indian’s would not be so worried about their target as the Durban wicket always has something for the fast bowlers, and the way the pitch has played in the Test match. It seems chasing would never be an easy task for a side batting second.
On the third day, India managed to give a decent target of 305 to the South African’s, and in response, South Africa managed 111-3 at the end of the day’s play. The match is poised in a good position, and India would have to make sure that they bowl in the right areas to dismiss the remaining of South Africa on the fourth day. Nonetheless, an interesting day’s cricket is in hands for the viewers and whichever team plays with patience will definitely come on top in the end.
India resumed from their overnight score of 92-4 and needed their lower order batsmen to stay till the end and play a responsible innings for their side. A true depiction of responsibility was shown from their batsmen, when C Pujara was unable to keep a short ball down from Morkel and got bowled for just 10 runs. India were reduced to 93-5 in the early over’s of the morning and it was up to their dashy skipper to revive Indian hopes of a good lead in their second innings. Laxman and Dhoni contributed a 48 run partnership for the 6th wicket and helped India to take their lead into the 200 mark.
South African’s bowled with a lot of fire and made good use of the bowling conditions. Steyn and M Morkel got a lot of late movement and also moved the ball in their spells. South Africa had another vital success, when Tsotsobe dismissed Dhoni for just 21 runs. Dhoni played at a delivery that was on his off stump and gave an edge to Mark Boucher. Harbhajan did not last long as he gave a catch to second slip of the bowling of M Morkel.
India were struggling at 148-7, and still they had not got enough lead to Test the Proteas batsmen in their second innings. A vital stand of 70 runs between Zaheer Khan and V Laxman helped India to reach a safe position, as both the batsmen tried to push the scoring rate in their partnership. Zaheer played aggressively and struck number of boundaries of the bowlers. V Laxman played the role of anchor and tried to bat with a lot responsibility. Both the batsmen had their share of luck, but in the end, they did manage to take India out of the woods. Zaheer batted well for his 27 and struck 4 boundaries in his innings.
South Africa bounced back in the match when Paul Harris dismissed Zaheer Khan for 27 runs. After http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 were not able to add much to their total and the whole side was dismissed for 228 in their second innings. Laxman was the last batsman to be dismissed when he edged a delivery to Dhoni of the bowling of Steyn.
South Africa in response started positively and reached 63 without the loss of any wicket. Both the opening batsmen played well and punished all the Indian bowlers. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 lost its first wicket when Graeme Smith (37) top edged a short ball from Sreesanth which was easily taken by the keeper. It was a surprising delivery from Sreesanth and it again showed the nature of the Durban wicket. Few over’s later, Alviro Peterson was dismissed when he failed to keep down a spinning delivery from Harbhajan and gave a catch to the leg position. Sreesanth again struck for India, when he dismissed the inform Amla for 16 runs. At the end of the third day, South Africa managed 111-3, with Kallis (12*) and De Villiers (17*) still at the crease. The fourth day would be an interesting one for India as they would try their level best to level the series 1-1.
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