Gambhir leads fightback

Tourists reach 142 for two in deciding Test against South Africa.

CAPE TOWN: Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar put on the first century partnership of the match as India overcame the loss of two early wickets on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa.

Gambhir (65*) and Tendulkar (49*) put on an unbeaten 114 to enable India to reach 142 for two at the close in reply to South Africa’s Jacques Kallis-inspired 362 all out.

Kallis was the mainstay of the South African innings, making 161 before being last man out. He batted superbly with tailenders Paul Harris and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, taking his score from 100 to 161 while the last two wickets added 79 runs.

It was the South African batting star’s 39th Test century, moving him into joint-second place on the all-time Test centurions list alongside Ricky Ponting of Australia and behind only India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who has made 50 hundreds.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2011.