Proteas edge closer to victory

Sachin Tendulkar
12 April 2012

South Africa made steady inroads to edge closer to a big victory on the fourth day of the first Test against India in Nagpur.

India, following on after conceding a first innings lead of 325, resumed their second innings from 66 for two, but lost Murali Vijay (32) and Subramaniam Badrinath (six) after a steady start.

Sachin Tendulkar, India's main hope of survival, battled on and had made 77 in India's total of 162 for four by lunch, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's last recognised batsman, at the other end on nine, with the home side still trailing South Africa by 163.

Tendulkar set the pace in the morning session, whipping Dale Steyn for boundaries in consecutive overs and driving Paul Harris for a boundary through midwicket in the left-arm spinner's first over.

Tendulkar was reprieved on 45 when Jacques Kallis failed to hold a low catch at first slip and reached his 55th Test half-century with a boundary off Wayne Parnell.

Vijay kept pace for much of the first hour and had added 72 for the third wicket when he skied a sweep shot against Harris straight to Morne Morkel on the square-leg boundary.

Badrinath, who hit a half-century in the first innings, needed 17 deliveries to get off the mark, but did not stay long as he edged Parnell to Mark Boucher.

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