India push on in Kanpur

Half centuries from Sourav Ganguly (87) and VVS Laxman (50) helped India reach 288 for nine and surpass the 265 South Africa reached the previous day on an unpredictable wicket which spun, bounced and kept low.

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Rahul Dravid chipped in with 29, forming a strong partnership with Laxman until the two fell in quick succession midway through the second session, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni added a useful 32.

Openers Virender Sehwag (eight) and Wasim Jaffer (15) offered little resistance before being dismissed early on but the middle order made inroads to leave the match finely balanced.

In the morning session, South Africa made the breakthrough in the fifth over of India's innings when Dale Steyn pitched a full delivery to Sehwag which jagged back to trap him in line with off stump.

Jaffer fell in the 11th over when he tried to hit Morne Morkel across the line but was hit low on his pad in front of middle stump.

Dravid and Laxman progressed slowly and steadily after lunch but fell in the 42nd and 44th overs to leave the hosts on 123 for four and hand South Africa a slight advantage.

Laxman had survived a scare on 43 when he was dropped by Jacques Kallis after edging Paul Harris behind, and he capitalised by hitting the same bowler for four through midwicket later in the over.

But Dravid did not have such luck when he tried to defend a vicious Morkel delivery, succeeding only in gloving to AB de Villiers at gully and injuring his hand in the process.

South Africa had the momentum after breaking up a good partnership and no sooner had Laxman reached his 33rd Test 50 he was bowled by a peach of an inswinger from Morkel.

The wicket was a blow for India as Laxman had looked in fine touch. He hit Morkel for three fours off one over midway through the morning session - the second an exquisite flick through square leg which brought up India's 50.

Yuvraj Singh was unbeaten on 21 at tea but, having been lucky not to be given out lbw just before the break off Hashim Amla, added just 11 more runs before being caught by De Villiers in the deep after trying to sweep Harris.

Ganguly continued to rack up the runs and reached 50 by driving Morkel through wide mid-off, and he was ably assisted by Dhoni until the latter came down the track to Harris and was stumped on 32.

Thereafter Ganguly was given little support by the tail with Harbhajan Singh making six before Steyn hit him flush on the pad in front of middle stump and Piyush Chawla hitting a solitary four before trying to pull Makhaya Ntini and top-edging to Graeme Smith at mid-on.

But with the next ball, Ganguly attempted to loft Steyn over the off side but sliced straight to Amla at extra cover, leaving Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (nine not out) and Ishant Sharma (0no) at the crease.

Morkel and Steyn finished with three wickets apiece.