Cape Town, Jan 3: Gautam Gambhir (65*) and Sachin Tendulkar (49*) guided India to a position of safety by posting a total of 142/2 at the end of the second day’s play in the final Test against South Africa. The duo brought up the highest partnership of the match by amassing 114 runs for the third wicket after India had found themselves in a position of bother with the score at 28/2.

The Indian reply, which started halfway through the post-Lunch session, began in disappointing fashion. Virender Sehwag (13) was caught by Graeme Smith at mid-off as he tried to blast a delivery from Dale Steyn to the boundary, while Rahul Dravid (5) was run-out with the Indian score at 28.

But Gambhir and Tendulkar then struck the partnership that could well prove invaluable for India in the final analysis. Both batsmen, like Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince on Day 1, were quick to dispatch anything loose to the boundary but were solid in defense otherwise. Gambhir, who brought up his second half-century of the series, also enjoyed a bit of luck as he was dropped on two occasions, once by Alviro Petersen at gully while only on 10 and the second by AB de Villiers at second slip when on 60.

Earlier, Jacques Kallis once again proved how invaluable he is to his team as he steered South Africa to a total of 362 by playing a gallant innings of 161. Batting with Ashwell Prince at the start of the day’s play, the duo added a brisk 30 runs in as many minutes of the morning session. However, S Sreesanth then produced a delivery that ended Prince’s resistance. And when he had Mark Boucher (0) caught behind by MS Dhoni off the very next ball, the Indians found themselves back in the match.

It was only to get better for the Indians as Zaheer Khan got rid of Dale Steyn (0), the South African speedster offering an easy catch to gully. Morne Morkel (8), on the other hand, was dismissed in the all too familiar routine of caught Dhoni, bowled Sreesanth. Four South African wickets had fallen with the addition of just 51 runs.

But with Jacques Kallis bringing up his 39th Test century and offering solid resistance at one end, the Indians found it difficult to dismiss the last two South African batsmen. Paul Harris (7) played 41 deliveries and added 27 valuable runs with Kallis for the ninth wicket while Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who hung around for over an hour at the crease, added 52 runs for the last wicket with Kallis.

Brief Score (At end of Day 2):South Africa 1st innings 362 in 112.5 overs (Jacques Kallis 161, S Sreesanth 5/99); India 1st innings 139/2 in 50 overs (Gautam Gambhir 65*, Sachin Tendulkar 49*, Dale Steyn 1/31)

At Tea: India1st innings 49/2 in 16 overs (Gautam Gambhir 22*, Sachin Tendulkar 8*

At Lunch: South Africa 1st innings 335/9 in 104 overs (Jacques Kallis 140*, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 3*)

After Day 1: South Africa 1st innings 232/4 in 74 overs (Jacques Kallis 81*, Ashwell Prince 28*).