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News of Jan
2 2007
India on Top with Jaffer's Ton
Cape Town, Jan 2 (IANS) Opener Wasim Jaffer discovered form with a
fine century as India piled up 254 for three wickets against South
Africa on the first day of the crucial third and final Test here
Tuesday.
When the stumps were drawn India, Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 28
and V.V.S. Laxman was on four, after the visitors opted to bat at
the picturesque Newlands stadium.
A new year and a new opening duo and they didn't disappoint either
by putting on a 153-run partnership and with Jaffer making a
blistering 116 and Dinesh Karthik making a gutsy 63. This was also
the first century partnership by India on the South African soil.
Virender Sehwag's poor form had forced the team's think tank to
change the opening pair and it clicked as Karthik surprised
everybody with his fine performance.
Karthik got a lease of life on 32 when he was dropped by Graeme
Smith who squandered a regulation edge at first slip. But after
that, Karthik didn't look back and proved his worth.
The partnership was broken by debutant Paul Harris, who dismissed
Karthik, caught by Hashim Amla.
Skipper Rahul Dravid looked in fine touch and hit five boundaries
but was dismissed for 29 in a soft manner when he edged Shaun
Pollock to wicketkeeper Marc Boucher.
The Indian openers took advantage of the flat pitch and hammered the
South African bowlers to all parts of the ground with Jaffer hitting
as many as 15 boundaries.
He pulled with authority, sometimes picking the ball from outside
the off stump, and a salvo of drives either side of the wicket
reiterated how comfortable he was. There was hardly any lateral
movement to worry about and Jaffer, confident in both attack and
defence, led the way.
Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, South Africa's new-ball pair, couldn't
get much advantage from the flat pitch and were also erroneous with
line and length but Pollock provided some respite.
He produced more movement than the rest and even managed to get the
edge, only to be frustrated by Smith's butterfingers at first slip.
Harris didn't pose too many problems for the Indians and Karthik
swept him with confidence and slashed when short.
SCOREBOARD
3rd Test, Day 1, India vs South Africa, Newlands, Cape Town, Jan 2
India (1st innings)
Wasim Jaffer c Kallis b Steyn 116
Dinesh Karthik c Amla b Harris 63
Rahul Dravid c Boucher b Pollock 29
Sachin Tendulkar batting 28
V.V.S. Laxman batting 4
Extras: (b 4, lb 3, w 2, nb 5) 14
Total: (for three wickets in 90 overs) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-153 (Karthik, 56.1 overs), 2-202 (Dravid, 71.5),
3-240
(Jaffer, 85.1)
Bowling:
Dale Steyn 20-10-41-1 (2nb)
Makhaya Ntini 18-3-64-0
Shaun Pollock 16-6-32-1
Jacques Kallis 12-4-36-0 (2w)
Paul Harris 24-2-74-1 (3nb)
IANS News of Jan
2 2007
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