Cricket: Pollock puts India on ropes

PORT ELIZABETH - The South African captain, Shaun Pollock, led from the front in his bid to secure a series victory over India, ripping out their top order on the second day of the second cricket test at Port Elizabeth.

After his side were bowled out for 362, Pollock's new-ball burst of three wickets in 20 deliveries left the Indians reeling at 15 for three. By the close, they had mustered 182 for eight.

Shiv Sunder Das fell lbw, Rahul Dravid lost his middle stump, and then came the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, who mistimed a pull to mid-on. The visitors further collapsed to 119 for eight and faced the prospect of following on.

But V. V. S. Laxman remained unbeaten on 77 off 102 balls, with 10 fours, sharing a stand of 63 with Anil Kumble.

Laxman made an astonishing 281 against Australia in Kolkata in March to set up victory after following on for only the third time in test history, but he is unlikely to repeat such heroics on the bouncier surfaces in South Africa.

Pollock took 10 wickets when South Africa won the first of the three tests.

He was the first to fall yesterday as his team resumed on 237 for five, but Herschelle Gibbs carried on his merry way, scoring 196 off 354 balls, with 25 fours and a six.

He received able support from wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who made 68 not out off just 70 balls after being dropped at slip by Dravid off Harbhajan Singh on 31.

Gibbs was finally dismissed by Tendulkar, caught in the gully by Virender Sehwag, while Javagal Srinath's exemplary seam bowling accounted for three more victims to leave him with excellent figures of six for 76.

Continuing confusion over their batting order saw India experimenting with their gloveman, Deep Dasgupta, opening the innings in only his second test, Dravid dropping down to No 3, and Laxman at six.

It was all to no avail.

- INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS (SOUTH AFRICA)