Cricket Update from the iSport Cricket Paddock: If the Indian bowlers thought that they had seen the worst on Day 2, they had another thing coming on the third day of the Centurion Test.
The day started out brightly for the Indians as Hashim Amla flicked an Ishant Sharma delivery off his pads straight to Dhoni in the 6th over of the day.
In came AB de Villiers who along with Jacques Kallis pulverised the Indian attack. The South Africans scored 225 runs off 36 overs in the first session at an average of 6.25 runs per over.
The South Africans continued executing their plan of attacking Harbhajan Singh. De Villiers was reverse-sweeping the off-spinner with ease, and was soon joined by Kallis who had been restrained for the first hour.
De Villiers reached his century in no time, 76 balls to be precise, which became the fastest century by a South African. Kallis also reached his maiden double century soon after the break. He got there by glancing Jaidev Unadkat to fine leg to spark off tumultuous applause at SuperSport Park.
Graeme Smith declared soon after at 620/4 when de Villiers fell on 129, with the South Africans registering an imposing lead of 484.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag walked in with a herculean task at hand. The two dashing openers provided India with just the started they needed, putting on a 137-run partnership before Paul Harris finally got Sehwag at 63, bagging his 100th test wicket.
Rahul Dravid walked in to try and solidify the innings along with Gambhir, and the two were looking good until Dale Steyn had Gambhir rapped in front from around the wicket, thanks to a ball which kept low.
Ishant Sharma was sent in as the night watchman and survived the five overs bowled after Gambhir's wicket, before bad light stopped play.
The Indian batsmen will have to bat out of their skin to save this test match. And they sure have the right men to do the job. Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman have no better opportunity to show why this Indian middle-order is the most feared in the world.
Scores: (Stumps Day 3)
India 136 and 190/2 (Gambhir 80, Sehwag 63)
South Africa 620/4 dec (Kallis 201*, Amla 140)
Read South Africa vs India Day 1 Highlights
Read South Africa vs India Day 2 Highlights
Read iSport Special: India's African Safari
India's Tour of South Africa - Complete Series Schedule
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