Cricket: Steyn rips through India

NAGPUR - Dale Steyn led South Africa's attack with eight wickets to dominate the third day of the first test, ripping through Indian batting to force the follow on at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

In their second innings, India also lost both openers as Gautam Gambhir was bowled by Morne Morkel for 1 and Virender Sehwag followed for 16, leaving the home side on 66-2, still 259 runs behind South Africa's first-innings total of 558 declared.

India batsmen Murali Vijay and Sachin Tendulkar were unbeaten on 27 and 15, respectively.

Steyn emerged as the chief threat for the visitors as he bagged his eight for 65 runs, with seven coming in the first innings.

The paceman attributed his success to "good planning and execution" of reverse swing.

"In a flat pitch like this, reverse swing came handy," Steyn said. "I was trying to work it out at the nets."

Steyn's return was a career best, beating the 6-49 he achieved at Centurion against New Zealand in 2007.

Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Paul Harris also chipped in with one wicket apiece during India's first innings.

Murali Vijay and Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 4 and 7, respectively, in India's first innings, managed to stem the rot the second time around. Vijay hit 4 boundaries off 60 deliveries and Tendulkar added two boundaries off 40 balls.

Earlier, India's first innings lasted for just 64.4 overs after they resumed on their overnight score of 25 for no loss. The hosts lost their last six wickets on the day in 36 minutes spanning seven overs after tea.

Opening the Indian innings along with Gautam Gambhir late on Sunday, Virender Sehwag survived the onslaught of the South Africa attack and returned to play flamboyantly to take India close to the 200 mark, playing both the spinners and pacemen aggressively to reach his ton.

Sehwag was out when trying to chase a ball outside the off stump from Parnell that gave a catch to Kallis at deep point. Sehwag reached 109 from 139 deliveries, including fifteen boundaries.

Sehwag was well supported by debutant Subramanian Badrinath who played a responsible knock of 56 off 139 deliveries before he was caught by Ashley Prince off Steyn.

The departure of Sehwag and Badrinath spelled the end of the Indian innings with the remaining five wickets falling for only 11 runs in 6.3 overs.

South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher sprained his back while fielding and did not return to the field after lunch with A.B. de Villiers keeping wicket. A South Africa spokesman said Boucher will be fit to play in Calcutta.

- AP