Tendulkar moves India towards big total in third test

CAPE TOWN, Jan 3 (Reuters) Sachin Tendulkar scored his second half-century in as many matches to help India maintain control of the third test against South Africa today, with the tourists reaching the second day lunch break on 350 for five.

Tendulkar, who scored 63 in the first innings of the second test in Durban, made 64 before he was caught by Jacques Kallis at first slip off the bowling of left-arm spinner Paul Harris.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly was 34 not out at the interval, along with Virender Sehwag, who was on 12.

The third and final test will decide who wins the three-match series after the sides split the first two contests and India's decision to bat after winning the toss looks a good one as South Africa's bowlers struggled on the flat track.

India resumed on 254-3 and the home side's first success of a morning session that yielded 96 runs for India came in the eighth over when fast bowler Dale Steyn uprooted VVS Laxman's off-stump for 13.

The third ball Ganguly faced was a short delivery from the fiery Steyn, who took 2-58 from 27 overs, that clattered into the batsman's helmet.

Play was held up for several minutes as Ganguly, who had yet to score, repaired his damaged headgear.

Ganguly was 22 not out with the total on 321-4 when his drive to a delivery from left-arm spinner Harris fell just short of Shaun Pollock at long-on and rolled over the boundary for four.

However, the bowler was celebrating in his next over after he spun a delivery sharply from out of the rough near Tendulkar's feet.

The ball found the edge of the bat and flew to Kallis at slip, giving Harris (2-91) his second test wicket on debut.

REUTERS PM VV1645