Two collapses leave India-South Africa Test even

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa tumbled from a position of strength to 213-6 and made India´s 280 looked a surprisingly solid score as two rapid collapses on a fiery Wanderers pitch left the first test about even at the close of day two on Thursday.

The quick bowlers unsurprisingly dominated on a green, bouncy track in Johannesburg to shape the early part of the short battle between Test cricket´s top two teams. Eleven wickets fell and only one half-century was recorded to go with Virat Kohli´s impressive century on the first day.

Vernon Philander led South Africa´s bowling with 4-61 in the morning as India was kept to 280 after being 255-5 overnight. Morne Morkel was menacing for his 3-34.Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami then shared five wickets to lift India´s bowling at the end after Graeme Smith´s half-century and his 93-run partnership with Amla threatened to give the Proteas the clear advantage at 130-1 in their reply.

India´s last five batsmen for 25 in 13 overs in the morning. Then, India´s seamers responded with five wickets in a devastating six-over spell in the afternoon to send South Africa sprawling from that 130-1 to 146-6 and then a still-vulnerable total at stumps.

Facing South Africa´s daunting 118-1 at tea, and with Smith and Amla settling in, Sharma´s spell early in the final session was an example of India getting it right on unfamiliar green tops.

The left-armer finished with 3-64 and Shami had 2-48, with Zaheer Khan also chipping in on his first test appearance in a year with the crucial wicket of Smith.South Africa had threatened to stamp its authority on proceedings through Smith and Amla, who combined to initially anchor the innings.

Smith made 68 for his 38th Test half-century and Amla had flashes of his flowing best in his 36 before he decided to leave a jagging delivery from Sharma and had his stumps smattered.

The Indians removed Amla, Jacques Kallis first ball, Smith, JP Duminy and AB de Villiers in the space of 16 runs to rip the heart of the Proteas´ batting before Philander was called upon for the second time.

Philander was central to the day´s developments, sparking South Africa´s early onslaught with three quick strikes in the morning and then moving to 48 not out at the end of the day to keep South Africa together.Despite being the tailender, he bossed his half-century partnership with Du Plessis (17 not out), hitting five fours, including a couple of crunching pulls, to take South Africa — hanging in there — to the close and ensuring the crucial opening match of the brief two-test series was evenly poised again after the rapid developments. (AP)