IND vs SA 3rd Test : Harbhajan, Tendulkar pull back things for India

Sachin Tendulkar struck his 51st Test ton and double strikes from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh pulled back things for India against South Africa at the close of third day’s play in the third and the final cricket Test at the Newlands here on Tuesday.

Tendulkar made 146 and Gautam Gambhir struck 93 to guide India to 364 in the first innings, two short of South Africa’s total of 362. At close, South Africa were 52 for two with Avlviro Petersen batting on 22 and Hashim Amla was yet to open his account.

Harbhajan purchased some good bounce and turn from the track and removed skipper Graeme Smith (29) and nightwatchman Paul Harris, trapping both of them leg before the wicket in his last two overs of the day.

Earlier in the day, Tendulkar survived two blistering spells from fast bowler Dale Steyn to take India to 362.

Steyn had a superb spell at the start of the day, almost all of it bowled to Tendulkar, and beat the master batsman several times without finding the edge.

With the second new ball, Steyn was almost unplayable and took two wickets for three runs in six hostile overs. He dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to reduce India to a precarious 6-247.
But Tendulkar and the unorthodox Harbhajan Singh (40) frustrated the South African bowlers with their 76-run stand for the seventh wicket, although both batsmen survived concerted appeals for catches behind the wicket off Steyn.

Umpire Ian Gould turned down both appeals, which came during the space of four balls, and television replays indicated he was correct both times.

Steyn seemed furious when the appeal against Harbhajan was turned down but it appeared the ball deflected off the off-stump at high pace, remarkably without disturbing a bail.

Steyn ended with figures of five for 75, despite being smashed for six by Harbhajan when he returned to the attack shortly before tea. But he did not get enough support from his fellow bowlers.
The 51st Test century was not Tendulkar?s most fluent innings, but it came at a time when the team needed it the most as India are chasing their historic Test series win in South Africa. Tendulkar showed the temperament and reached his century off 212 balls, albeit luck was on his side as a top-edged attempted hook against Morne Morkel flew for six.