India 31 for one at lunch; leads by 67 runs

Veteran Zaheer Khan polished off the South African tail taking three of the last four wickets, as India bowled out the home team for 244 thereby taking a first innings lead of 36 runs on the third day of the first cricket Test here Friday.

At lunch, India were 31 for one having extended their overall lead to 67 after Shikhar Dhawan (15) was sent back by Vernon Philander being caught by Jacques Kallis in the slip cordon. Incidentally, Dhawan became Philander’s 100th victim in Test cricket.

In the morning, South Africa added 31 runs before Zaheer (4/88) and Ishant Sharma (4/78) took the remaining four wickets for addition of another 31 runs. Philander (58), who was on 48 overnight, completed his third Test fifty with a cover drive off the very delivery of the day.

India’s pace spearhead Zaheer’s wickets tally now has gone up to 299 and he will be gunning to enter the 300-wicket club when India come out to bowl in the South African second innings.

Dhawan and Vijay (12 batting) began the second innings with an hour left for the lunch. And they began calmly, especially the latter, looking to leave as many balls as possible.

Dhawan again looked uncomfortable as he faced up to opening spells by Dale Steyn and Philander.

Philander (1/18) especially troubled the batsmen as the pitch got quicker on the third morning, adding pace to his nagging line and length. Dhawan had a couple close calls, but also had a great escape in the eighth over.

The right-arm seamer improvised on the next delivery though and Dhawan played at it, edging to Jacques Kallis at second slip.

Dhawan’s 15 came off 21 balls with a boundary before he became Philander’s 100th victim in 19 Test matches.