The first two days of the second Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens couldn't have been more similar. Double hundred partnerships, two centurians, and cluster of wickets late in the day. The only difference being that when India took 7 wickets post tea on day 1, SA have picked only 3. But, they have got the tide back in their favour and they will look to continue this tomorrow morning. All the good work by Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar had been partly undone, as India, cruising at 331/2, went to 336/5. VVS Laxman barely managed to survive as the last ball before stumps went agonisingly past the first slip. India are in the lead already, but they could well have done without the late drama.The day started with India looking to take the last wicket, but were soon frustrated as the last two SA batsmen got some boundaries. Two wide fours too resulted in the Proteas stretching the score close to 300 from the overnight 266. Then it was the Sehwag show. There is something with Sehwag vs SA. He averages 60 against the country where he got his maiden hundred on debut. He has got four more centuries including today's in just 12 matches. Incredible!
There was no swing for the Nagpur hero Dale Steyn, and when he doesn't get that, he is easy meal for Sehwag. A hatrick of boundaries in the third over got India going, as the openers got yet another half-century stand. They raced to 73 in just 9.2 overs, before a costly error from Sehwag resulted in Gambhir's runout. The leftie was looking to make amends for his failures in Nagpur, and was looking in good touch too. But, alas! Murali Vijay didn't last long, as he succumbed to Morkel after being hit on the helmet.
Sehwag had a chance to get the fastest half-century in Tests, but he slowed down after the run-out. He still went at a strike rate of well above 100, as he punished all loose balls. Tendulkar on the other end played the second fiddle as he kept rotating the strike. Both players compliment each other pretty well, and they got about their job again in fine fashion, cruising at a run-rate above 5.
Sehwag slowed down after his 19th hundred, looking to keep his wicket intact. Sachin too slowed down after tea, and had to battle few anxious moments before getting to his 47th ton. This was his fourth consecutive hundred as he got some daylight between him and his nemesis Ricky Ponting in Tests centuries' column. Sehwag then got his 13th 150+ score as the two players played for the stumps.
But, then it happened. JP Duminy hadn't done anything in the match other than getting out for a duck and dropping Sehwag at 47. He got his chance to make amends as Smith introduced him finally close to stumps. Sehwag, who was remarkably calm, keeping out aggressive shots, obliged as he tried to smash Duminy through covers. Tendulkar looked more disappointed as he knew that Sehwag was going to do something needless. Not sure, whether the Sehwag's dismissal got into the head of the "little master", but he soon edged Harris to slips, playing away from the body. Noone knows why Harris was bowling over the wicket for so many overs in the day, bowling the most no. of wides in an innings ever. He got the wicket when he finally came around the stumps. He almost got Laxman too. At the other hand, Steyn finally got a wicket in the day, getting through the gate of Badrinath. Steyn was too good for him, as he struggled with the reverse in-swing. He fended off two balls, before making a mess of the third.
A lead of 200 runs was looking good for India at one stage, but now they have a tough job on their hands. They have let SA smell blood, letting them come back into the match, after they had lost all hopes. With the old ball reversing and turning, and with the new ball only four overs away, Laxman and Dhoni will have to dig deep to get a sizeable lead. Its events even going into day 3.
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