When strong winds and storm clouds forced the players off SuperSport Park late on the fourth day, South Africa were on the verge of winning a Test they had dominated entirely. That they hadn't won by an innings already, and would spend the night hoping the foul weather vanishes in time to take two wickets, was because Sachin Tendulkar scored his 50th Test century in trying circumstances and, with MS Dhoni, forged a counterattacking 172-run partnership that took India within 30 runs of wiping out the monstrous 484-run deficit.
South Africa had taken such a significant stride towards victory by scalping four wickets during the first session that it seemed as though their 1-0 lead would be secure before tea. However, they faced resistance: first from Tendulkar, whose concentration did not waver as his middle-order mates departed meekly, and then from Dhoni, whose belligerent approach brought rewards on a sparsely-populated outfield. They did not take a wicket between lunch and tea.
India continued to blunt South Africa in the final session of play and whittle the deficit rapidly below 100. It needed Dale Steyn - supremely fit, aggressive, and pumped up for one late burst - to bowl a bouncer that rose steeply and followed Dhoni. Steyn roared in angry celebration as Dhoni failed to sway, and the nick was caught by Mark Boucher diving to his right. India were 449 for 7 and the dream of saving Test was over. Harbhajan Singh edged to slip soon after and Tendulkar, watching unbeaten from the non-striker's end, knew that his team would need substantial help from the weather to escape.
More to follow …
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