India Vs Southafrica, Ind vs Sa Score in Day 4, NAGPUR: Sachin Tendulkar smashed a defiant, unbeaten half century as India reached 162-4 at lunch on the fourth day Tuesday in its bid to avoid an innings defeat to South Africa in the first test Tuesday.
India, which was forced to follow on the third day, still trails South Africa by 163 runs after the visitors declared for 558-6 on Sunday.
After resuming on the overnight score 15, with India on 66-2, Tendulkar played judiciously to anchor the innings and reach 77 not out at the end of the first session. He faced 125 deliveries and hit eleven boundaries.
Tendulkar was dropped by Jacques Kallis at first slip off a Wayne Parnell ball in the 15th over of the day when on 45. He went to the break with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 9.
South African skipper Graeme Smith introduced left arm spinner Paul Harris for Morne Morkel (1-36) after the first five overs in an effort to force a break through, .
Paceman Dale Steyn (1-36), who claimed seven wickets for 51 runs in India’s first innings, continued from the other end.
The ploy paid immediate dividends as Harris claimed Murali Vijay for 32.
The departure of Murali saw Subramaniam Badrinath join Tendulkar, but he was dismissed for 6 shortly after to a full length delivery from Wayne Parnell that he edged to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
was first posted on February 9, 2010 at 12:57 pm.
