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December 29, 2006 (Link to Scorecard)

India have been rescued by bad light and rain on the fourth day of the Durban Test Match. They were set a stiff target of 354 and had got into trouble already losing two wickets including that of their mainstay, Rahul Dravid. Another curtailed day it was at Kingsmead with just 62 overs bowled which means that this test match has lost more than one complete day due to bad light. South Africa have fought back this morning from a tough situation which almost gave India every opportunity to get into a winning position. Right now, the Indians will be looking mostly for a draw and should be content with that as they are the team with the 1-0 lead.

The fourth day's play started 30 minutes earlier with SA carrying on from their good opening stand between Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. The pair almost stretched their partnership to 100 before VRV Singh produced the much needed breakthrough by getting AB de Villiers to edge a delivery that straightened after angling in. A great catch at slips was taken by VVS Laxman just inches above the grass which was confirmed by the third umpire. AB de Villiers fell three runs short of a half century. Sreesanth, the bowler at the other end got Hashim Amla, who was leg before the wicket for the second time in this game. SA were now 108 for 2 with a lead of 196. The match turned on its head when Sreesanth got the ball to reverse swing to get the prized wickets of Graeme Smith, clean bowled playing along the wrong line and first innings centurion, Ashwell Prince edging an away going delivery. Sreesanth bowling from over the stumps to those two left handers had got the ball to move in opposite directions to send them back to the pavilion. Graeme Smith finally found some form to get to his 15th fifty, he made 59 with 11 fours. Prince was gone without troubling the scorers in the same over in which Smith got his furniture disturbed.

 

The Indian team was charged up with wickets falling all at once. Their position strengthened immensely when Herschelle Gibbs got beaten in the flight to drive Kumble early and uppishly into Dinesh Karthik, the sub fielder at short extra covers. It was just Kumble's second delivery of the innings that he had got the wicket. Very soon, Zaheer Khan didn't want to miss out in the action as he accounted for the wicket of Mark Boucher who was beaten by a sharp inswinger to be right in front of the stumps. India were sensing victory at this stage with the homeside down at 143 for 6, the lead had moved onto 211. But the pair of Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall spoilt the fun with some sensible batting. The wicket was still a good one for batting and it was just some application that was required to gather the runs. Pollock and Hall did just that and the young seamers, in particular Sreesanth got tired and the loose deliveries were on offer. The two all rounders had put on a match turning 70 runs for the 7th wicket before Hall was given out leg before having failed to connect his flick to a slower delivery from Sreesanth. Hall contributed 22 to that partnership.

Hall's exit during the post lunch session saw Morne Morkel getting a promotion in the batting following his solid batting in the first innings. He didn't let his team down as he helped himself and Shaun Pollock to add on few more runs to put South Africa into the comfort zone. With both batsmen not looking to get out, Dravid spread the field and decided to go with spin at both ends in Kumble and Sehwag. As and when Morkel slogged Sehwag into the hands of long off, the declaration was made by Graeme Smith with SA reaching 265 for 8 leaving India a target of 354. Shaun Pollock remained unbeaten on 63 with 10 fours while Morkel got 27. Among the Indian bowlers, it was once again Sreesanth to be the chief wrecker as he finished with 4 for 80 from 19 overs, his match figures are 8 for 189. India went to tea at 18 for the loss of Virender Sehwag who failed yet again, this time pushing at a good length delivery from Ntini that held its line just outside the offstump.

Dravid gets a bad decision again!

In the last session, India got a bad decision with Rahul Dravid given out caught behind by Asad Rauf off Ntini's bowling. TV Replays had shown that Dravid's bat had brushed his pads which made the sound that got Asad Rauf to give that decision in favour of the bowler. It was for the second time in this match that Dravid was unlucky to be given out. Sachin Tendulkar had to face just the two deliveries before light was offered as expected. Wasim Jaffer had got to 22 and will have to stand up and play to his potential for his own good on the final day's play. Tomorrow's weather forecast is for some showers and that is what India will hope but they will have to bat well atleast one and a half sessions. The post tea session has always been cut shot on all the four days and it is likely to happen on the fifth and final day as well.

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