PORT ELIZABETH
Leaving Mike Denness for one moment, India finally discovered reserves ofapplication and resolve to hold out for a draw in the second Castle Lager/MTNTest match against South Africa at St George's Park on Tuesday.
A dogged second-wicket stand worth 171 between Deep Dasgupta and Rahul Draviddid most of the work on the second day, although India's cause was in no wayharmed by a short, sharp showed around tea-time. The rain ensured that the homeside were unable to capitalise quickly on the fall of Dravid's wicket justbefore the break.
Then again, perhaps Denness did play a part, albeit unwittingly. By comingdown so heavily on six Indian players, including national icon Sachin Tendulkar,the match referee may well have sparked something in the Indians that had beenmissing throughout their South African tour.
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Finally India demonstrated that they had the stomach for a contest and mustbe a matter for conjecture whether Denness' actions pushed the embattled Indiansso far up against a wall that they had no option other than try to fight theirway out of trouble.
And so Dasgupta, playing in his second Test and opening only because no oneelse could be found to do the job, battled his way through five-and-a-half hoursat the crease for his 63. It was a brave effort – "A big job," ascoach John Wright said. "He hasn't been off the park for much of thematch."
It was, as Wright noted, important for India to go through the first sessionof the last day. This achieved, Dasgupta and Dravid went on for most of thesecond session as well until Nantie Hayward finally engineered Dravid'sdismissal, caught at the wicket for 87.
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Dravid went just before the rain break around tea time and Dasgupta wascaught at slip off Hayward shortly after the resumption, but by then the matchhad been saved.
As well as the Indian pair batted, though, the South African attack was againpatchy. Shaun Pollock, as he has been throughout the series, was againmagnificent in this match – he has taken 16 of the 33 Indian wickets to fall– while Hayward justified his inclusion again.
But Jacques Kallis has been below par, perhaps a consequence of the amount oftime he has spent at the crease, while Ntini's return for this game was one for74 and he has now taken three for 184 in the two matches. These are not thefigures expected from someone in the side solely for his bowling.
Pollock was disappointed afterwards that South Africa had not forced home theadvantage they held for most of the match. "They played well, Dravid andDasgupta, but it's disappointing."
He said that the weather – most of the fourth day was lost to rain – hadput paid to South Africa's chances, but conceded that the bowling was "notas effective as we would have liked."
The series, then, is still open as it moves to SuperSport Series on Fridaywith India in with a chance of levelling the series. Always providing, ofcourse, that they are not called back home before reaching Pretoria.
