By the close of play on Day Two, it looked like the swing in the fortunes on both the days were pretty similar; runs scored in a pile and then wickets falling in a heap. The only marked difference between the two teams is that India got on top of the Kolkata Test ending the Day Two at 342/5 and managing a crucial 46 run-lead over South Africa.

The whisker of difference however was made possible by superb centuries scored by India’s shining jewels, dashing Veerender Sehwag and Little Master Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag’s innings was all breezy, a testing time as usual for the bowlers; he was out for a well-made 165 just when he looked set for yet another double ton.

Sehwag’s knock was so full of fireworks that the gentle, river-rafting style of Sachin’s batting was almost lost. The entire stadium woke up and greeted Sachin with a roar when he reached his 47th Test hundred (106) absolutely effortlessly. Scoring his fourth consecutive hundred in the last four Tests, Sachin scaled enviable new heights by registering his 92nd international hundred.

But just the way the South Africans did themselves in on Sunday, the hosts quickly lost Sehwag and Sachin after the two put on a fabulous 249 runs for the third wicket. Soon there was more worry when Dale Steyn removed Badrinath, which meant India lost three wickets in the space of 5 runs.

V V S Laxman who caressed a wristy drive through cover on his arrival later had a providential escape when his edge of spinner Paul Harris went past Kallis in the slips. Night-watchman Amit Mishra is with Laxman. Now India, with skipper M S Dhoni being the only recognised batsman, will have to really battle it out to gain a decent lead against a strong South African batting line-up.