I have been an admirer of Sehwag for long, and heartily endorsed his hell-for-leather approach in the first two Tests. Conditions for batting were very difficult, and only a Sehwag special could have put South Africa on the defensive. But here, as India showed, the new ball is only dangerous for about a dozen overs, and then conditions become so easy that even that giant-of-a-batsman Tsotsobe can survive. So, why oh why, attempt that ambitious away from the body drive in the 3rd over of the match against Steyn? I know "that is the way he plays" but surely he needs to understand that if he waited for about 10 overs in these conditions, he would have a large score there for the taking.
There is very little swing on offer -- only some bounce -- and that should ease out very soon.
Rahul Dravid has been struggling, and if he didn't have bad luck, he would have no luck; except wait, he survived a runout when Duminy missed with all 3 stumps on view (Gambhir made a yes, yes, no, no call). Dravid looked completely out of sorts, stabbing weakly at balls outside off as is his wont of late. Still the conditions were easing and this was his golden opportunity. Only to be cruelly run out by a sharp piece of fielding from AB who swooped down onto a dropped catch from Petersen. This may be the end of a great great career -- at the very least, we should consider Pujara at #3, and Dravid at #6.
India are in danger of frittering away perfect batting conditions. We have the middle order and a very very shaky Gambhir in during the 11th over itself. Another wicket and we are in big trouble -- if Tendulkar and Gambhir can hold it together for a while, batting will become much easier.
All 3 results are still possible, but at this time South Africa must like its chances. If they can get a 100 run lead on India, then India will struggle in the 4th innings. If, India can, on the other hand, get a 100 run lead it will be the South Africans who will be in trouble.
South Africa will look to get to the tail by the end of today -- India will want to lose no more than one more wicket.
Bharat
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