Tendulkar counters inspired spell by Steyn

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – Sachin Tendulkar effectively  countered an inspired new ball spell from Dale Steyn to take  India closer to South Africa’s first innings total on the third  day of the third and deciding test today.
Tendulkar had reached 136 not out, his 51st test century, in  India’s 316 for six in reply to South Africa’s 362 at tea. The  series is tied 1-1.
Steyn struck immediately after lunch when he trapped  Cheteshwar Pujara (2) lbw with an unplayable delivery that  pitched on leg stump and then swung away late to hit the batsman  on the back pad.
He was quick to follow up with the wicket of Indian captain  Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who edged another fine away swinger to be  caught at third slip for a duck.
The world’s number one ranked bowler should also have  disposed of Harbhajan Singh when another fantastic delivery had  the batsman groping to no avail as the ball swung into off  stump. But to one nation’s dismay and another’s joy, the bails  somehow failed to fall and Harbhajan had an unlikely reprieve on  six.
Steyn was rested after a brilliant spell of two for three in  seven overs and the threat eased for India’s batsmen. Tendulkar  and Harbhajan (34 not out) had added 69 by tea.
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris played a hand in both the  wickets South Africa picked up in the first session.
Harris ripped a ball out of the rough to get the left-handed  Gautam Gambhir smartly caught behind by Mark Boucher for 93, and  South Africa were then given their second wicket of the innings  through a runout off a dropped catch.
Tendulkar’s fierce drive off Harris was airborne and to the  bowler’s right, slamming into his fingers, from where it  deflected into the stumps and non-striker Vangipurappu Laxman  was run out.
Laxman, the man of the match in India’s series-levelling  victory in last week’s second test in Durban, had looked  threatening as he blasted three fours in his 15.
Rahul Dravid had been run out for five on the second day  after trying to steal a run when Gambhir was dropped behind the  wicket off Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Tendulkar, who scored seven test centuries last year,  brought up his hundred after lunch by top-edging a hook off  Morne Morkel for six. He has been at the crease for 434 minutes  and 295 balls and, after struggling in the morning session, his  play in the afternoon was up to his usual immaculate standard.