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DURBAN - AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith shared an unbroken half-century stand to build South Africa's lead on the third day of the second test against India today.
South Africa were 64 without loss in their second innings, a lead of 152 runs, when bad light ended
play 30.3 overs early.
De Villiers was 31 not out with Smith on 28.
India were dismissed for 240 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 328.
Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman resumed on 103 for three and took their partnership to 64 before Tendulkar attempted to cut an angled, short delivery from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Tendulkar, who was dropped on 21 on Wednesday, hit 11 fours in his 63, India's top score.
Three balls later Sourav Ganguly fended a rising, short delivery from Ntini to Herschelle Gibbs in the gully to be dismissed without scoring.
Debutante fast bowler Morne Morkel took his first test wicket when Mahendra Dhoni, who scored 34, edged a drive to AB de Villiers at second slip.
The dismissal ended a steadying partnership of 54 that Dhoni shared with Laxman.
Morkel claimed his second victim in his next over when Anil Kumble drove wildly and was caught behind by Boucher for nought.
Zaheer Khan skyed what became the last ball before lunch, bowled by Morkel, to Hashim Amla at short leg to be dismissed for two.
Free-scoring number 10 Shanta Sreesanth helped Laxman add 52 runs in fluent style for the ninth wicket.
Medium pacer Andrew Hall ended the partnership when Sreesanth, whose 28 included five fours, swung across the line and edged a catch to Boucher.
The innings was over an hour after lunch when medium pacer Shaun Pollock had Vikram Singh caught behind for four.
Laxman batted for almost three hours for his unbeaten 50, which he scored off 156 balls with just three fours.
Ntini took three for 41 while Morkel claimed three for 86.
De Villiers and Smith were able to score comfortably on a sound pitch, although De Villiers was fortunate to survive after edging a rising delivery from medium pacer Singh just over the slip cordon when he was 25 not out.
Umpire Mark Benson left the field in the fifth over of the day's play because of heart palpitations, Cricket South Africa media liaison officer Gordon Templeton said.
Templeton said Benson was taken to hospital and his condition would be monitored overnight.
Benson was replaced on the field by third umpire Ian Howell.
- REUTERS
