Durban, Dec 27:VVS Laxman (23*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (10*) produced a gritty batting display to give India the advantage at close of play on Day 2 of the Durban Test. The fifth-wicket partnership between the two (36 runs) has now given India a vital 166-run lead heading into Day 3.

The post-Tea session began with India resuming their second innings. Virender Sehwag played at his usual brisk pace (32 off 31) before edging a wide delivery from Lonwabo Tsotsobe to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher with the score at 42. The visitors then plunged into a crisis situation as they lost Murali Vijay (9), Rahul Dravid (2) and Sachin Tendulkar (6) in the space of 30 deliveries. Laxman and Pujara bailed India out of the difficult situation by stringing together the hard fought, 36-run partnership.

Earlier, India could add a mere 22 runs to their overnight score of 183/6 before they were bowled out for 205. Harbhajan Singh (21) was the first Indian batsman to be dismissed on the day as he played a delivery from Dale Steyn that found its way to AB de Villiers standing at third slip. Zaheer Khan (0) then fell to Morne Morkel as he nicked a delivery outside off stump to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

MS Dhoni tried to make the most of his stay at the wicket with the tail-enders. He even hit Steyn for a huge six over long-off but fell for 35 trying to play one shot too many. Sreesanth fell without scoring and India lost their four wickets within the first ten overs of the day. Steyn finished with figures of 6/50 while Morne Morkel’s two wickets in the morning were his first of the match.

The South African first innings began on a disappointing note when Zaheer Khan had Graeme Smith dismissed for the fifth time in Tests with the score at 23. Alviro Petersen, looking good during his 39-ball stay at the crease for 24 runs, was Khan’s next victim as he was bowled by the left-armer off a delivery that flicked his pads and then knocked the bail off leg stump.

Ishant Sharma then got his fingertips to a drive from Hashim Amla that left Jacques Kallis (10) short of his crease at the non-striker’s end. And when Sreesanth had AB de Villiers (0) nicking a delivery to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni just before Lunch, India had their first real good session of Test cricket on this tour.

Resuming after Lunch from 74/4, Harbhajan Singh struck the first blow for India when he had the in-form Hashim Amla trapped LBW for 33. Zaheer Khan then bowled Ashwell Prince (13) off a delivery that held its line after pitching. At 100/6, South Africa were in all kinds of trouble.

Harbhajan added to South Africa’s woes when he struck a double blow in the 30th over of the innings by dismissing Dale Steyn and Paul Harris in the same over. Steyn’s dismissal, a catch at first slip, also brought up Rahul Dravid’s 200th catch in Tests. Mark Boucher denied the Indians his wicket. But when Ishant Sharma had Morne Morkel (10) superbly caught by Harbhajan at the fine leg boundary and Lonwabo Tsotsobe became Harbhajan’s fourth wicket of the day, the hosts had been bowled out for a mere 131 runs.

Brief Score (At end of Day 2): India 1st innings 205 in 65.1 overs (VVS Laxman 38, MS Dhoni 35, Dale Steyn 6/50) and India 2nd innings 92/4 in 30.5 overs (VVS Laxman 23*, Cheteshwar Pujara 10*, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 2/16); South Africa 1st innings 131 in 37.2 overs (Hashim Amla 24*, Alviro Petersen 24, Harbhajan Singh 4/10, Zaheer Khan 3/36)

At tea: South Africa 1st innings 131 in 37.2 overs

At lunch: South Africa 1st innings 74/4 in 16.4 overs (Hashim Amla 24*)

After Day 1: India 1st innings 183/6 in 56.0 overs (MS Dhoni 20*, Harbhajan Singh 15*).