Laxman puts India in control of first test

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 17 (Reuters) Disciplined batting by VVS Laxman helped India take control of the first test against South Africa today.

Laxman's 73 was the top score in India's second innings of 236.

The hosts, set 402 to win, suffered an immediate blow with the loss of opener Herschelle Gibbs in their one over before lunch on the third day.

India resumed on 146 for five, and South Africa began positively by dismissing Mahendra Dhoni and Anil Kumble in the first five overs of the day.

Medium pacer Shaun Pollock had Dhoni caught behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 18 with a delivery that swung late before finding the edge, and Kumble miscued a drive off fast bowler Andre Nel to Ashwell Prince in the gully to be dismissed for one.

Laxman and Zaheer Khan stopped the slide with a stand of 70 for the eighth wicket that was ended when fast bowler Makhaya Ntini had Laxman well caught low down by Graeme Smith at first slip.

Two balls later Ntini had Khan caught behind for 37, reducing India to 219 for nine.

Shanta Sreesanth, who scored 15 not out, and Vikram Singh, who made two, shared a bright stand of 16 for the last wicket in which Sreesanth smashed Nel for a straight six and celebrated by whirling his bat in the air repeatedly.

Pollock took three for 33, while Ntini and Nel also claimed three wickets each.

South African openers Gibbs and Smith came out to face one over before lunch, and with the fourth ball left-arm fast bowler Khan had Gibbs caught by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip.

REUTERS PM ND1656