Kanpur, April 12: India failed to capitalise on the brilliant work done by Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman as they lost their way towards the end of Day 2. A faint lead of 23 runs ensured that the tourists remained in the hunt after getting bundled out for 265 on the first day. Earlier, Laxman-Dravid partnership ensured that India recovered from early setbacks that saw Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag being dismissed cheaply.

Towards the end of the day, just a few overs after taking the lead in the first innings, India were dealt two quick blows. First to take the long walk back to the pavilion was Piyush Chawla, who was removed by Makhaya Ntini while following him on the next delivery was Sourav Ganguly, who went while trying to hit a Dale Steyn delivery out of the park.

India eclipsed the Proteas first innings total of 265 with three wickets still in hand. Harbhajan Singh, who joined Sourav Ganguly after MS Dhoni’s dismissal provided the southpaw with excellent support before being caught plumb in front of the wicket off a Dale Steyn delivery that kept low. Harbhajan, who scored just 6 runs, added 20 valuable runs with Ganguly.

A momentary lapse in concentration by Dhoni saw India lose their sixth wicket at a stage when they still trailed the South African first innings total. Dhoni took a long walk back to the pavilion after he was stumped while charging down the track to a Paul Harris delivery that kept a little low.

Ganguly slammed a brilliant fifty to help India inch closer to Proteas first innings total of 265. The southpaw’s 34th half-ton in Test cricket came off just 76 balls and was studded with five hits to the fence and a huge six.

India crawled past the 200 run mark on a pitch on a difficult wicket. With the last recognised batting pair on crease in the form of Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni, India will be hoping for a big partnership from the duo.

Paul Harris claimed his first victim of the Indian innings as he induced Yuvraj Singh into a false stroke. Yuvraj, who scored 32 runs was out as he tried to sweep a ball from off stump and top edged it in front of square leg, where de Villiers held on to a flat catch.

The third Test match between India and South Africa was evenly placed after the lunch session on day two as the home side inched closer to the visitors’ first innings total of 265. Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh put up a crucial partnership after India lost the set pair of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in quick succession. India went into tea at a score of 165/4.

Just after scoring a fifty, Laxman was castled by Morne Morkel to reduce India to four wickets down with just 123 runs on the board. Morkel claimed his third wicket of the innings as he went through the defence of Laxman, who moved forward to a good length delivery that straightened off the pitch after swinging into the batsman and took the top of the off stump.

Just when India looked like gaining the upper hand in the Kanpur Test, the Green Park pitch undid Rahul Dravid with an unplayable delivery. Dravid, who scored 29 runs was out as he tried to defend a Morkel delivery that reared up from good length and took the batsman’s glove before being caught by de Villiers at Gully. The score at the stage read 113/3.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman played patiently to help India claw back into the match after a spirited opening spell by the South African quicks saw both the openers sent back to the pavilion with just 35 runs on the board. The duo bought up their 50 run partnership as India went into lunch at a score of 88/2.

Morne Morkel ensured that the home team were not allowed to build a partnership as he trapped Wasim Jaffer in front of the wickets off just the fourth ball of his spell. Jaffer scored 15 runs. VVS Laxman came in to join Rahul Dravid at the crease.

India received a big blow early on in their innings as Dale Steyn sent hard hitting batsman Virender Sehwag back to the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 18 runs after five overs. Sehwag, who scored 8 runs, was caught plumb in front of the wickets off a delivery that moved in a shade.

India’s opening pair of Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag started off well on a pitch that seemed to be assisting the bowlers. Sehwag hit a couple of classy boundaries while Jaffer too looked solid at the other end.

Earlier on day one, Indian bowlers ensured that the Proteas batsmen were not allowed to take the match away from India’s grasp as they wrapped up the tourists’ innings for a mere 265.

Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa started off well but lost the momentum midway through their innings as the Indian spinners made the Proteas dance to their tunes on a spin friendly track.

For India, Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma took three wickets each while young Piyush Chawla accounted for Neil McKenzie and AB de Villiers.

India 1st innings: W Jaffer lbw b Morkel 15, V Sehwag lbw b Steyn 8, R Dravid c de Villiers b Morkel 29, VVS Laxman b Morkel 50, SC Ganguly c Amla b Steyn 87, Yuvraj Singh c de Villiers b Harris 32, MS Dhoni st Boucher b Harris 32, Harbhajan Singh lbw b Steyn 6, PP Chawla c Smith b Ntini 4, S Sreesanth not out 9, I Sharma not out 0 Extras: (b 8, lb 4, w 1, nb 3) 16 Total: (9 wickets; 88 overs) 288 (3.27 runs per over) FOW: 1-18, 2-35, 3-113, 4-123, 5-188, 6-248, 7-268, 8-279, 9-279 Bowling:DW Steyn 16-1-60-3, M Ntini 19-6-41-1, M Morkel 13-1-57-3, PL Harris 29-7-89-2, JH Kallis 9-1-23-0, HM Amla 2-0-6-0