Battle royale at the Kingsmead

What an engrossing day of Test cricket at the Kingsmead in Durban yesterday!And I watched almost all of it.18 wickets tumbled on the day - as many as 8 before Lunch,another 6 between Lunch and Tea,and 4 after Tea.That the partnership between VVS Laxman and Cheteshwar Pujara of 46 unbeaten at Stumps is the most remarkable partnership of the day says it all about how difficult life has been at the crease.India lead by 166 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 2nd innings.Just the second day over,we're into almost halfway the 3rd innings,but yes,we have the least idea who's gonna be King of the Kingsmead.

After Dale Steyn returned figures of 6-50 in the first innings,it didn't surprise that Zaheer Khan led India to a lethal fightback.Such is the myth that Indian batsmen cannot cope with quality seam bowling that South Africa have overdone the wicket here,and it has backfired.Australia got it at the WACA in 2008,England at the Oval in 2007.By now,we are used to the difference Zaheer brings into the Indian bowling attack,specially in Tests.He is to bowling what Sachin Tendulkar is to batting for India.And despite the fact that he didn't exactly get effective support from the other end,he proved instrumental in reducing the hosts to 74-4 at Lunch.It is as if he has made it a habit to fool Graeme Smith one way or the other,and that's one big factor negated.But it was Harbhajan Singh who turned out to be the big surprise factor.A 4-10 burst from him was last thing South Africa needed or expected.The catching in the entire match has been praiseworthy,and the visitors refused to be left out of the party this time.Rahul Dravid's 200th catch in Tests will rank as one of the very best ever caught be the slip veteran.

One was perhaps laying back in the chair satisfied that India were in the driver's seat,with a reasonably good start in the 2nd innings after having secured a substantial 1st innings lead of 74,until Sehwag nicked Tsotsobe complacently to Boucher.From 42-0,suddenly it was 56-4.Sehwag and Dravid,also scalped be Tsotsobe,would perhaps be kicking themselves for the way they threw their wickets away.Funny thing,I perfectly anticipated Dravid and Tendulkar's wickets.Just seconds before Dravid got out I was thinking that India might do the mistake of taking Tsotsobe lightly,who's certainly not in the league of Steyn and Morkel if the speed is concerned.and Dravid ended up doing just that.On the latter occasion,Dale Steyn had been brought in for his second spell and as he ran up for the first delivery,I wondered perhaps there's a wicket looming,and if somethings to happen,it would happen off that very first ball of his new spell.And lo,Tendulkar edges one to de Villiers,as if he's not really prepared for the sudden outburst of speed.

Since then,it's been Laxman and Pujara applying themselves pretty well out in the middle,one must say.Needless to say,they need to carry on the good work this morning.Another 100-150 runs and the way the match has chameleoned so far,who knows...