Clash Of The Titans Ensures Thrilling Series Climax

Day three was an absolute humdinger for all present as two legends of the game have left the series evenly poised.

On one of the most finest day’s imaginable from a cricket fan’s perspective, the world's best fast bowler terrorised the game’s most acclaimed batsmen with frightening spells of high speed accurate outswing bowling.

While most of a top-class top-order succumbed to Steyn’s pace, Tendulkar proved just why he is rated amongst the game’s finest.

The battle between Steyn, oozing aggression with literally every ball, and Tendulkar, who remained dogged in the face of adversity, was alone worth the entry fee.

At the end of the day the South African frontman had racked up yet another five-for, while the “little genius” notched up an ever improving record 51st test century.

Tendulkar’s 146 will rank among his finest hundreds considering the bowling faced, as he was beaten innumerable times by Steyn's outswingers, and given a proper working over by Lonwabo Tsotsobe's extra bounce outside off stump.

His 176-run stand with Gambhir gave India the edge, with the momentum once again swinging with a South African fightback that saw four wickets fall for 43 runs.

Morkel began his spell early in the day by testing Gambhir's concentration with a succession of short length deliveries bouncing steeply outside off stump.

Gambhir weighed in with 93 off 222 balls, and looked set for a 10th test century before he offered up the faintest of outside edges to a delivery from left-arm spinner Paul Harris, with keeper Mark Boucher taking a good low catch.

This dismissal bought the ever fearsome second innings master VVS Laxman to the crease but, after scoring 15, Laxman fell in unfortunate circumstances.

Tendulkar smashed a Harris delivery straight back at the bowler who stuck out a hand to deflect the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Laxman was backing up and was out of his ground when the stumps were broken.

Tendulkar eventually fell to Morkel, losing his off stump bail to a straightening delivery, and bringing to a close an absolute colossal battle.

In the end India led the hosts by 2 runs, which has ensured that this series will go down to the final innings.

A late double-strike from Harbhajan Singh handed India a slight edge as South Africa struggled to 52/2 in their second innings at stumps.

The Proteas had looked untroubled in their second innings reply as Smith and Alviro Petersen put on 50 runs for the opening wicket, before Harbhajan landed his body blow with Smith falling three overs before the close and Harris departing in the final over of the day.

This game is a tight one to call against two of the world’s very best teams.

The bookies are of the same opinion, claiming this encounter to end in a draw, however on a fourth day pitch expect a collapse from one of these teams here. 

A score of 250 is decent to defend heading into the fifth and final day, and with a seething pace attack the likes of Steyn and Morkel, South Africa will fancy their chances of pulling off an historic win against the world best batting line up.

This Test is poised for a classic finish.