India beat South Africa by 87 runs in second Test

India took four South Africa second innings wickets before lunch to leave the hosts reeling on 182 for seven in the second test and the visitors in a strong position to square the series.

Needing 303 to win the match and clinch the series, South Africa resumed the fourth day on 111-3 but India’s left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan led his side’s charge with two wickets while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh grabbed one apiece.

Sreesanth claimed the key wicket of Jacques Kallis for 17 in the eighth over of the day with an inspired delivery that reared up off a good length, as South Africa’s leading run-scorer could only fend the ball off his gloves into the gully region.

Five overs later, AB de Villiers, who was the other overnight batsman, was adjudged lbw to off-spinner Harbhajan for 33.

De Villiers had stretched well forward to a delivery that straightened into his front pad, umpire Asad Rauf ruling that it would have hit the stumps.

Mark Boucher (1) was next out and unlucky to be trapped lbw from a ball that was missing the stumps when Zaheer struck the batsman on the back pad outside off with a delivery that was moving further away from the wicket.

Dale Steyn (10) then edged a fine delivery from the same bowler, that was angled into the batsman before nipping away to one of two gullies stationed for the catch.

Ashwell Prince (28 not out) and Paul Harris (7 not out) were providing some late resistance as they chipped away at the deficit, which was down to 121 by lunch.

Sreesanth had claimed 3-45 in 14 overs and Zaheer had taken 2-45 in 13 overs as the world’s top two ranked test sides struggled for supremacy.