CALCUTTA, 1 December 2004 — Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag just missed centuries as India inched ahead of South Africa’s first innings of 305 on the third day of the second and final Test yesterday.
The hosts were 359 for six at stumps, Dravid falling for 80 and Virender Sehwag for 88 on a day when none of the Indian batsmen fully capitalized on their starts. Captain Saurav Ganguly made 40 and Vangipurappu Laxman 38 but South Africa’s bowlers grabbed wickets at regular intervals to keep the scoring in check on a good batting track. Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik was on 35 with Irfan Pathan 21 not out in a 51-run unbroken partnership when bad light stopped play.
Dravid struck eight fours in his 247-ball knock, showing shades of his best form after a barren run, but lost fluency again before he was bowled by medium-pacer Andrew Hall.
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had yesterday joined the chorus of criticism for South Africa’s slow scoring during the series but India fared little better, progressing at 2.87 runs an over. Sehwag, who had scored 82 of India’s overnight 129 for one, made his intentions clear from the start with a straight six off Shaun Pollock.
But Makhaya Ntini softened him up with a couple of short balls and had him caught at gully while trying to fend off a bouncer. Sehwag hit 11 fours and two sixes in his 118-ball knock. Dravid kept the runs flowing at the other end, stroking three quick boundaries and raising his 35th Test half-century.
He struck some majestic blows, a cover drive off Ntini ranking as the stroke of the day.
Tendulkar, struggling to middle the ball during his 80-minute stay, was bowled when he dragged a ball from seamer Zander de Bruyn on to his stumps from outside off.
He hit three fours, one of them a lucky nick between wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile and first slip.
Ganguly, dropped on 30 by Jacques Rudolph, struck some big blows through the off side off leg-spinner Justin Ontong before departing lbw to de Bruyn. Television replays suggested the ball had pitched outside leg stump. De Bruyn finished with two for 32 from 16 overs.
Vangipurappu Laxman also showed signs of his silken touch, elegantly picking off boundaries before he slashed Ntini straight to Ontong at point as India were reduced to 308 for six.
It looked like South Africa would make further inroads in the final session with their new-ball bowlers but Karthik and Pathan held firm for 85 minutes. “At the end of the third day, the game is pretty even,” Dravid added. “Irfan and Karthik have batted well toward the end of the day. But we would have liked to be about 100 ahead with a couple of more wickets in hand.”
