By IANS,
Durban : V.V.S. Laxman and Zaheer Khan defied South Africa attack with a valuable 70-run partnership for the eighth wicket and extended India’s lead to 292 runs at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test here Tuesday.
After the morning session in which India lost three wickets, the visitors were 218 for seven with Laxman (86) and Zaheer (27) turning the heat on South African bowlers.
Morne Morkel (3-47) took two wickets in the morning while Lonwabo Tsotsobe (3-43) dismissed Mahendra Singh Dhoni (21) to reduce India to 148 for seven after the visitors resumed at 92 for four.
Cheteshwar Pujara (10) was the first to go as he was unable to properly fend off a steep Morkel bouncer that climbed on him. Dhoni, after playing some attacking shots, poked at a wide delivery and was caught behind. Harbhajan (4) was caught by Kallis off Morkel in the second slip.
At that stage, it looked Laxman would soon run out of partners and a lead in excess of 250 unlikely.
But Zaheer, after playing some rash shots, settled down with Laxman farming the strike.
Laxman, who is experienced in playing with the tailenders, played some exquisite shots, stroking 11 fours in 140 balls.
Zaheer was lucky to escape a strong lbw shout off Dale Steyn. He played 59 balls and struck four fours, two of them off the last two balls before lunch from left-arm seamer Tsotsobe.