Ganguly's counter-attack keeps India afloat

Kanpur: India managed to keep themselves afloat in the crucial third and final cricket Test against South Africa here today 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.

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 Indians suffered another jolt immediately after the first drinks break when Morne Morkel, who replaced Steyn from the pavilion end, struck in his first over by accounting for Jaffer who never really looked comfortable in the middle.

The Mumbai batsman fell to a leg before decision to Morkel's fast ball which hit him low on the pads as he tried to move across the line, leaving India at a precarious 35 for two.

The stylish VVS Laxman, who joined the action after Jaffer's dismissal, immediately made his intentions clear by opening his account with a glorious straight drive off Morkel. He was even more severe in Morkel's next over as he thrashed him for three boundaries, one of them going through the slips cordon to the third man boundary.

While Laxman kept the scoreboard moving with a flurry of boundaries, Dravid was more circumspect at the other end as the uneven bounce of the track made batting difficult.

The duo added 78 runs for the third wicket before Morkel again swung the balance in South Africa's favour by evicting Dravid and Laxman in quick succession when he was brought back into the attack.

© Getty Images Morne Morkel produced a devastating spell on a crumbling pitch

Dravid was dismissed by a ball that reared up sharply, hitting him on the wrist before ballooning up to AB de Villiers who took a simple catch at gully.

Dravid was in pain as he held his wrist while taking the long walk back to the pavillion.

The stylish Laxman, who seemed to be far more comfortable in the middle, took a single off Harris to notch up his 33rd Test half-century and his first at Green Park but the celebrations by the seizable crowd was shortlived as he perished soon after.

Laxman was bowled by an incoming delivery by Morkel whose second spell figures read 4-0-12-2. Laxman's knock came off 103 balls and contained seven boundaries.

Laxman was given a reprieve when he was on 43 with Jacques Kallis dropping a difficult catch at first slip, spinner Paul Harris being the unlucky bowler. But that lapse did not prove to be costly as the batsman could add only seven more runs.

Ganguly came out in a positive frame of mind and went for his strokes straightaway, realising that it was not a track where one could survive for long by only defending.

The former captain picked up Harris for special treatment hammering him for two boundaries and did not hesitate to use his feet against the slow bowler.

Yuvraj Singh, at the other end, was equally aggressive, as the two batsmen went about trying to consolidate the position for the team.

With both batsmen going for their strokes, the runs came quite briskly which led to some heated verbal exchanges between Yuvraj and Steyn. The two umpires stepped in quickly to diffuse the situation by talking to the players and South African captain Graeme Smith.

After tea, Yuvraj's belligerence was brought to an end by Harris who induced the left-hander to go for a big shot only to be caught at the mid-wicket fence by de Villiers.

Dhoni also played some delectable shots during his knock of 32 before a rush of blood cost him his wicket.

He stepped out to Harris but missed the line completely to be stumped by Boucher.

Performance Analysis

India:

Plus:

1). First inning’s lead:

India batters battled hard on the second day of the Kanpur Test to take a valuable 23-run lead. Edging the Proteas out in the first innings will be a good morale-booster for the hosts.

2). Ganguly looked a class-apart:

Former skipper Sourav Ganguly’s fighting knock of 87 runs and involvement in essential partnerships with Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni was instrumental in his team gaining a first innings lead.

Minus:

Yuvi, Mahi didn’t capitalise on their starts:

Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni who got starts to their respective innings must be cursing themselves for throwing their wickets away.

Jaffer- again a concern:

Wasim Jaffer’s inconsistency with the bat continues as he again failed with the willow, scoring just 15 runs.

South Africa:

Plus:

1). Didn’t let India build a huge lead:

The Proteas will be happy that the hosts are nine wickets down and the lead has not been extended to a huge margin by the end of day two.

2). Morne Morkel was sharp:

Young Morne Morkel was crisp and dangerous with the red cherry on day two as he dismissed the likes of Jaffer, Dravid and Laxman with some magnificent deliveries.

Minus:

1). Allowed India to build partnership:

After dismissing the two Indian openers early, the Proteas must be disappointed that they allowed the hosts to build partnerships at crucial junctures.

2). Half-chances went abegging:

A couple of half-chances were grassed by the Proteas fielders on day two.