Tendulkar , Dhoni battling for survival in Nagpur Test

Nagpur, Feb 9 (Inditop.com) Sachin Tendulkar struck a defiant half century, but India lost two more wickets as South Africa tightened their grip on the first cricket Test in the morning session on the fourth day here Tuesday.

India, following on, were 162 for four at lunch with Tendulkar (77) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (9) at the crease. It would be a herculean task for this pair to save the Test as India still trail by 163 runs and with not much batting to come.

To make matters worse, the track, which was assisting the spinners from the second day itself, has now become a spinners’ delight. Left arm spinner Paul Harris was getting vicious turn by pitching on the rough outside the leg stump.

Harris got the wicket of Murali Vijay (32) who top edged a sweep to fine leg to be caught by Morne Morkel.

The other batsman to fall in the session was Subramaniam Badrinath, who had struck a solid 56 in the first innings.

Badrinath edged one behind to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher off left-handed seamer Wayne Parnell.

Tendulkar was lucky to escape when Jacques Kallis failed to grab a low catch in the slips off Parnell. That one life apart, the little master stood solid, striking 11 fours in 131 balls.