Ganguly, Laxman help lift India in third test

By N.Ananthanarayanan

KANPUR, India (Reuters) - Saurav Ganguly top-scored with 87 to guide India to a slender first innings lead against South Africa in the third and final test on Saturday.

Ganguly was ninth out after South African bowlers kept the pressure on a deteriorating pitch to reduce India to 288 for nine at stumps on the second day after the tourists were bowled out for 265 in their first innings on the first day.

Dale Steyn struck two quick blows as the South African fast bowlers claimed three wickets for 11 runs after claiming the second new ball in the final session.

India, needing victory to square the series, were 23 runs ahead with the last pair Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (9) and Ishant Sharma together at stumps.

Bowlers continued to dominate on a dusty Green Park pitch where some deliveries reared awkwardly from the cracks, making every run invaluable.

Ganguly guided the lower order after Vangipurappu Laxman scored a fluent 50 to revive the innings following the cheap dismissals of openers Virender Sehwag (8) and Wasim Jaffer (15).

Ganguly, who top-scored with 87 in the previous test which India lost by an innings and 90 runs, played solidly until he holed out Steyn to deep cover in a desperate bid to reach his 16th century before he ran out of partners.

He struck nine fours and a six off left-arm spinner Paul Harris, adding 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Yuvraj Singh and 60 for the next wicket with skipper Mahendra Dhoni. Both made 32.