Tendulkar and Steyn go blow for blow

Sachin Tendulkar's 51st Test century helped India to a narrow first innings lead over South Africa. Photo: Reuters

CAPE TOWN: A titanic battle between Indian star Sachin Tendulkar and South African quick Dale Steyn mirrored the struggle for supremacy in the series deciding third Test at Newlands on Tuesday.
Tendulkar, Test cricket's all-time leading run-scorer, made 146 in an Indian total of 364, while Steyn, the world's No.1 fast bowler, took 5-75.
By the close on day three, South Africa had reached 2-52 for two in their second innings to be 50 runs ahead with eight wickets standing.

Advertisement: Story continues below

South African captain Graeme Smith was trapped leg before wicket by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for 29 shortly before the close and was quickly followed by nightwatchman Paul Harris.
With the series between the world's two leading Test nations locked at one-all, it may take something special from one of the two sides to force a result during the remaining two days.
But something special was what Tendulkar and Steyn produced for 16,000 enthralled spectators.
"It was a great day for Test cricket," Harbhajan said.

"Sachin got another brilliant hundred and Steyn bowled brilliantly. You can't ask for more."
It was not one of Tendulkar's most fluent innings. Indeed, Steyn beat his bat several times during two blistering spells against the master batsman.
But Tendulkar never lost his composure as he battled to his 51st Test century on a pitch which always offered some assistance to the bowlers.
Only two other batsmen made scores of any significance.
Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir struggled to 93 and shared a third wicket stand of 176 with Tendulkar, while Harbhajan Singh was typically unorthodox as he hit 40 and put on 76 for the seventh wicket with Tendulkar.
Steyn was magnificent, bowling at high pace and getting late away swing, although he had no luck in his first spell of the day.
His spell with the second new ball was his best, taking two wickets for three runs in six hostile overs.
He dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to reduce India to a precarious 6-247 and had concerted appeals for catches against Tendulkar and Harbhajan turned down.
Umpire Ian Gould rejected both appeals, which came during the space of four balls, and television replays indicated he was correct both times.
Steyn seemed furious when the appeal against Harbhajan was turned down but it appeared the ball deflected off the off stump at high pace, remarkably without disturbing a bail.
"I heard a nick but I was sure it was not off my bat," said Harbhajan.
Steyn said his 16th five-wicket haul in Tests was more fulfilling because injured all-rounder Jacques Kallis was unavailable to bowl because of injury.
"To bowl 30 overs in that heat is quite tough so to get the reward is great, although the job is only half done," Steyn said.
"Hopefully the cricketing gods will smile on us. We may even get some wickets with bad balls."
Tendulkar's innings lasted for 465 minutes and 313 balls before he eventually fell to Morne Morkel, who had been largely unimpressive up to that point.