South Africa rally after Sehwag and Dravid heroics

By N.Ananthanarayanan

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - India's Rahul Dravid struck 111 for his 25th test hundred and Virender Sehwag delivered 319 runs before South Africa staged a splendid fightback on the fourth day of the first test on Saturday.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn grabbed four of the last five wickets to bowl out India for 627 at tea in reply to South Africa's 540 all out.

At the close, the tourists were 131 for one, 44 runs ahead, with opener Neil McKenzie unbeaten on 59 and Hashim Amla, top-scorer with 159 in the first innings, 35 not out, pushing the game towards a draw.

Captain Graeme Smith was out for 35 but the top-order batsmen again held firm on a pitch with minor wear and tear.

Sehwag and Dravid took centre stage for their individual efforts before the in-form Steyn ripped through the Indian tail to restrict their first-innings lead to 87 runs.

India lost the last five wickets for 29 runs, with Steyn taking 4-103.

Dravid hit 15 fours on his way to becoming the sixth batsman to tally 10,000 test runs, the third Indian to do so after Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

The 35-year-old, playing in his 120th test, emulated West Indian Brian Lara, Australians Allan Border and Steve Waugh and his two compatriots before completing his century after lunch.