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Nicely Poised After Two Days

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Virender Sehwag KolkataWhat a wonderfully interesting Test match we have witnessed to date. After two days of the Second Test, India has a slender 46 run lead with just five wickets in hand. The Test has ebbed and flowed and is now nicely set up.

Can Dhoni, Laxman and the Indian tail combine to further the lead and how will the South Africans respond in their second innings?

The third innings of the match is the key one as it shapes what form the conclusion is going to take.

The South Africans will feel as though they have much to make up for after going from the strong position of 1/218 to being all out for 296. It could have been worse had it not been for the 35 run 10th wicket stand which was the second highest of the innings. In one frantic period, South Africa lost 6/10 in 11 overs.

For India the batting was led by the reliable duo of Sehwag and Tendulkar. For Tendulkar it was his 47th Test century and another one for the ages. He makes it all look so simple. As for Sehwag he was firing along, but seemed to lose concentration following his century.

So where to from here? It is so close that cricket betting isn’t sure what to make of it all. It can go either way. This is Test cricket at its highest level and great to see that it is being appreciated by a healthy crowd.

It is a shame though that the two will only be playing two Test matches. These are enthralling contests and will be remembered long after everyone forgets about the three one-day matches which follow.

IPL 2010 starts in March and that is the reason why the tour couldn’t be extended. This is how cricket in the 21st century operates – there is no room on the calendar and one tour quickly becomes another one.

Still this short tour is better than nothing. Who knows how it will finish? What is for sure is that the cricket will be magnificent.

David Wiseman writes about cricket. He also writes about AFL betting.