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Kallis defies India to steer SA to a steady score

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Jacques Kallis 81 Cape TownSouth Africa asked to bat first by India under overcast conditions came up with a steady 232 for 4 on a weather-hit opening day’s play of the third and final Test at Cape Town. Jacques Kallis provided the stability to an otherwise shaky South African innings with an unbeaten 81. The hosts now have the slight advantage over India but the pitch at Newlands is only expected to become a batting paradise should there be consistent sunshine.

MS Dhoni started the new year 2011 on the right note perhaps when he had won the toss after several failed attempts of late. With the conditions being murky and the pitch having lots of grassy patches, India elected to bowl first. South Africa remained unchanged while India got in a fit-again Gautam Gambhir replacing Murali Vijay. And the decision of bowling first proved to be right for India with the red cherry swirling around beautifully for Zaheer and Sreesanth.

Zaheer drew first blood yet again when he had his bunny Graeme Smith dismissed for the 11th time off his bowling in all forms of the game. Zaheer got a pitched up delivery swinging in late and Smith didn’t move his feet at all in a straight drive to miss the ball and get hit on the backpad infront of off. Smith lasted only 12 deliveries scoring 6 and getting dismissed in 30 minutes of play in the 7th over. Rain prevented any further damage to the Proteas with conditions quite conducive for swing and seam bowling to keep the batsmen dancing in the crease.

South Africa resumed their innings at 21 for 1 in 9 overs after an early lunch break and got another jolt when openers Alviro Petersen driving along the wrong line to an outswinger from Ishant Sharma was caught behind by MS Dhoni. Alviro scored 21 in 47 balls with 3 fours while leaving the park at 34 for 2 in the 14th over. After about 7 overs, play was halted again and this time due to bad light with SA at 61 for 2 in 21 overs.

When play resumed after sometime, Hashim Amla provided a counter punch to help South Africa put the pressure back on India. Amla cruised through a 19th test fifty in no time but threw his wicket away by playing a pull shot too many off Sreesanth to be caught at deep mid wicket off a top edge. Amla’s damage was cut short to a 80-ball 59 which contained 9 fours and also a hook shot for a six which brought up his fifty in style. Amla’s partnership with Kallis was 72 runs lasting 15 overs. South Africa went to Tea at 125 for 3 in 37 overs with Kallis on 22 and AB de Villiers doing well for his 14.

After a brief partnership with Kallis, AB de Villiers who was well set on 26 lost his wicket when he was lured into a drive by a lovely outswinger from Sreesanth in the 51st over. Sreesanth got the ball to swing away from around off and curving the ball initially to have AB de Villiers (26 from 72 balls with 3 fours) enticed in a cover drive but only to edge it behind to MS Dhoni. The fourth wicket added up 58 runs for the Proteas. Kallis saw through the next 23 overs of play before the close comfortably with Ashwell Prince who helped himself to an unbeaten 28 from 69 balls.

Kallis ended the day with a patient 81* from 169 balls with 6 fours. Both he and Prince were beaten every  now and then by some magic balls from the three pacers but somehow lasted the distance for the day to keep SA in a decent position. The Indian bowlers struggled to bowl at their top speeds in the final session – especially Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth who were clocking just around 125 kmph! The lone spinner Harbhajan Singh couldn’t provide any pressure deliveries but was good enough to keep his end tight giving away 55 runs in 18 overs.