India 277/6 in 2nd innings, innings defeat looms
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Centurion: India stared at an innings defeat after they lost four wickets in the morning session of the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa here today.
At lunch, they trailed by 207 runs with just four second-innings wickets on hand.
Resuming at 190 for two, India lost the crucial wickets of Rahul Dravid (43), VVS Laxman (8) and Suresh Raina (5) and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (23) as they reached 277 for six at lunch break.
The visitors added just 87 runs from the 33.4 overs they faced in the morning session which started half an hour before scheduled time to compensate for loss of time on the first day.
Sachin Tendulkar, who looked the only Indian batsman with no discomfort against the South African bowlers, was holding fort on 38, which he made from 78 balls, as lunch was called at the fall of Raina.
The SuperSport Park has eased out considerably with fast bowlers not posing too much of a problem as they had done on the first day but Dravid and Ishant started cautiously and runs came in trickles initially.
Dravid dug deep, playing the balls on merit while Ishant showed intent to play shots and hit three fours -- two off Lonwabo Tsotsobe and one of Dale Steyn. He added 16 runs to his overnight seven before getting out.
South Africa had to work hard for the breakthrough which eventually came in the form of Ishant's wicket with the Indian offering a simple catch to Hashim Amla while trying to work a Steyn delivery to the square region nearly an hour into the morning session.
Tendulkar did not waste time as he opened his account with a two off the second ball he faced, of Steyn, and then hit a four in the next over of the same bowler and then off Kallis to increase the tempo.
Just when the most experience Indian duo of Tendulkar and Dravid were settling in to raise hopes of saving the match, the latter got out to a Morne Morkel delivery which had a hint of movement besides being quick.
Dravid got a faint edge straight through to Boucher to leave India at 242 for four, still trailing by 242 runs. Dravid's 43 came from 109 balls and was studded with six fours.
After the fall of Dravid, much was expected of Laxman but he departed without much contribution to give Tsotsobe his first wicket of the match. He got a thick edge of a full delivery outside off to land straight to gully fielder Ashwell Prince.
Raina did not last long as he edged a good length ball of Kallis to Paul Harris at first slip while trying to play it behind point.
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