First Test, Centurion (day four, stumps):
South Africa 620-4 declared v India 136 & 454-8
Venue: SuperSport Park Date: 16-20 December Time: Play resumes 0830 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports; reports and scorecards on BBC website
Match scorecard
 Steyn claimed the crucial wicket of MS Dhoni at the end of day four |
South Africa are on the brink of victory over India in the first Test in Centurion despite being held up by Sachin Tendulkar's 50th Test hundred. India reached 454-8 in their second innings at the close on day four, still trailing South Africa by 30 runs. Tendulkar was 107 not out, but the loss of MS Dhoni for 90 and Harbhajan Singh towards the end has made it an even tougher ask for India to save the game. Dale Steyn (3-103) snared Dhoni after his partnership of 172 with Tendulkar. Tendulkar also passed 14,500 Test runs in his 175th match, but it seems certain that he will end up on the losing side at SuperSport Park on Monday. Having been bowled out for 136 on the first day and having suffered in the field as South Africa racked up an enormous 620-4 declared, India now need a miracle on day five to avoid going behind in the three-match series.  | Regardless of what happens we'll take a lot out of this particular batting performance |
"We've got a lot of work to do," admitted India's South African coach Gary Kirsten. "Obviously the weather would help a little bit. "I've been very happy with the way the guys have taken the game to task in the second innings. They've come out and shown we want to make a play in this Test series still. "We didn't give up today led by Sachin and MS with that incredible partnership. Regardless of what happens we'll take a lot out of this particular batting performance. We'll see what happens. You never know." India began day four on 190-2 and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma hung around for 10 overs before falling to Steyn. Rahul Dravid became only the third man to reach 12,000 Test runs, after Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, on his way to 43. When Dravid was caught behind off Morne Morkel that was the start of a mini-collapse, with VVS Laxman edging Lonwabo Tsotsobe to gully and Suresh Raina hopelessly fending Jacques Kallis to Paul Harris at slip. That left India 277-6 at lunch and staring down the barrel of an ignominious defeat, before captain Dhoni joined Tendulkar at the crease and set about sparing some of his team's blushes. | 606: DEBATE |
Tendulkar brought up his fifty by hammering Steyn through mid-wicket, but Dhoni was racing away and he needed only 40 balls to reach his half-century, which included three successive boundaries off Kallis. Tendulkar upped his own run rate after tea and brought up his landmark hundred by pushing Steyn into the covers for a single, taking off his helmet and looking to the skies in celebration. But India's joy was short-lived as Steyn forced Dhoni to fend a rising ball behind to Mark Boucher, before Harris found enough turn to have Harbhajan caught at slip by Kallis. Sreesanth joined Tendulkar before a storm curtailed the day's play and it seems only the weather can save India from going behind in the series. "I think we bowled pretty well," reflected Harris. "We expected it to be a hard day. That's what it was, it was proper test cricket. That partnership between Dhoni and Tendulkar was a good one for India and they showed the fight that we expected them to show. "It's a pity about the rain, we couldn't finish it off, but hopefully we can come back and do it pretty quickly."
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