Ind SA T2 Day 3 Stumps: India in Commanding Position As Sreesanth's Act Snaps Smith

India find themselves in a relatively strong position to inflict a painful blow to the hosts in a revenge of sorts at Kingsmead, Durban, the ground that has previously been unkind to them.

graeme smith out

V.V.S. Laxman continued to led the fight from overnight, and was nearly rewarded with a century for his efforts, four runs shot of it. South Africa would have felt they had an equal opportunity to win the match with India ninety-eight for four overnight on the second day.

But South Africa's steady inroads suffered a setback in the form of a seventy run partnership between V.V.S. Laxman and Zaheer Khan that not only stalled proceedings but took India's target for South Africa from the competitive to the rather challenging, given the conditions and the surface.

Although there is a sixty per cent change of rain predicted for the fourth day, the Indians will feel that they have done the bulk of the job at stumps on the third day itself. Rather it was South Africa's captain who opened up the gate and not smartly so.

For once, India may not be in the mood to reprimand Sreesanth for his erratic behaviour. Not pleased that Smith and Alviro Petersen were going about the chase of 303 runs in rollicking fashion, Sreesanth got under the skin of Graeme Smith. The ploy worked in that Smith was seen waving his bat, as if asking the bowler to get back to his job. But clearly the captain was put off by the bowler's arrogance.

And it led to his downfall. In the mood to get on top of Sreesanth, Smith played the one false shot of the innings and it led to his dismissal. Taking on Sreesanth, Smith's mistimed shot resulted in a simple catch that dislodged South Africa's confident plan from its comfortable perch.

Worse still for South Africa, from sixty-three for one, the balance virtually dominantly shifted into India's hands as South Africa lost two wickets fairly quickly thereafter in Petersen by Harbhajan Singh and a more confident Sreesanth getting the better of India's nemesis this year, Hashim Amla.

At 111 for three, the result is looking ominous as South Africa are still adrift by 192 runs. With two days to go, either South Africa need an out-of-his-skin innings from one of the remaining batsmen standing or hope the weather Gods make a royal mess of India's ambitions to level the series going into Cape Town.

Smith ( thirty-seven from thirty-eight balls) must be kicking himself because while he was at the crease, it looked like South Africa may have just made it to thwart India's plans. Instead he let the loose cannon in Sreesanth distract him from his grand plans. There would be no doubt the Indians would have been breathing a sigh of relief after that rather real scare!

Sreesanth