Chennai: A spirited fightback by the South African bowlers did not allow India stretch their first innings lead beyond 87 runs with the hosts losing their bottom half for just 54 runs in the first cricket Test here today.
Virender Sehwag (319) fell well short of Brian Lara's world record of 400 not out even though the hard-hitting opener managed to record the highest Test score by an Indian. Rahul Dravid (111) also achieved a personal milestone when he joined the 10,000 Test run club en route to his 25th century in the longer version of the game.
For the visitors, Dale Steyn (4-103) ran through the Indian lower order after Makhaya Ntini (3-128) had triggered the collapse in the morning sessions. Left-arm spinner Paul Harris (3-203) too did his bit in dropping the curtains on the Indian innings. South Africa will begin their second innings after the tea break.
This was India's highest total so far at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, and the second best after England's 652 made here in 1984-85. Resuming at 468 for one, India was dealt a double blow by Ntini who removed milestone man Sehwag and then a scoreless Sachin Tendulkar to silence the stadium.
Sourav Ganguly (24) got the start but could not convert it and fell to Harris. The post-lunch session saw a spectacular batting collapse as Steyn came up with a four-wicket burst.
