India v South Africa, 2nd Test, Kolkata, 3rd day

Laxman and Dhoni swell lead past 250

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga

February 16, 2010

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Tea India 548 for 6 (Laxman 97*, Dhoni 85*) lead South Africa 296 by 252 runs
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How they were out
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	MS Dhoni and VVS Laxman took India's lead to 252 © AFP
Related Links Players/Officials: MS Dhoni | VVS Laxman Matches: India v South Africa at Kolkata Series/Tournaments: South Africa tour of India Teams: India | South Africa

VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni saw off the tricky period with the second new ball, and proceeded to nearly bat South Africa out of the Test. At any rate, with India leading by 252 and with five wickets in hand, South Africa would need a huge batting effort to make something out of this match. They didn't help themselves by continuing dropping catches: Laxman added 49 after his reprieve, Dhoni 62 after his, and nightwatchman Amit Mishra 23. They were not easy catches, but South Africa usually take eight out of 10 such.

The crucial period of play was just after Mishra had got out for an entertaining cameo, full of edges, plays and misses, and also cracking shots. The lead had reached 88, but with the second new ball Dale Steyn had found his swing back. Morne Morkel was his usual aggressive self, and had Mishra's wicket in his bag. Laxman was caught in a shell, wasn't struggling but was content to let Mishra take the ascendancy. South Africa could sense a comeback, and were giving it their best, with their best bowlers bowling in tandem.

But Laxman handled the fast bowlers well. He left well outside off, didn't let the bouncer barrage or a spell of no runs for 37 deliveries rattle him. The closest South Africa came to getting a wicket then was an inside edge that flew to the left of the keeper. Once Morkel went off - he had mild fever - runs were easier to come by, the storm had been weathered, and it was time to accumulate.

Dhoni saw Paul Harris, who could have had Mishra in the second over of the day but for the drop by Jacques Kallis at slip, and got a four and a six in his first two overs back. India's plan was clear then: Laxman was to be the solid anchorman, and the others were to score quickly around him. In the last over before lunch, Dhoni pushed forward at Harris, the ball spun and the edge flew to the left of slip. Kallis had by then taken a special overhead catch to remove Mishra, but this one didn't stick - the third such instance off Harris' bowling in a session and one delivery. Dhoni was 23 then.

In the first over after lunch, Laxman cut Wayne Parnell for four to enter his 40s, and steered him past gully for another four in his next over. A similar shot went uppishly towards JP Duminy at point the next ball. The ball fell slightly in front of him, but those are the catches South Africans take without even making them look tough.

After that, Laxman and Dhoni, untested, unquestioned, sauntered towards their centuries. If both of them were to get there, it would be Laxman's fourth in nine Eden Gardens Tests, and it will only be the second instance of four Indian batsmen would have scored centuries in the same innings.

Sidharth Monga is a staff writer at Cricinfo