India make steady inroads in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN, Jan 4 (Reuters) Good knocks by South Africa trio Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis failed to slow India's progress in the third test today.

The home team were 283 for six in their first innings at tea on the third day, a deficit of 131 runs.

Opener Smith was dismissed early when his limp drive to a ball from leg spinner Anil Kumble was caught by Virender Sehwag at short mid-on.

Smith had scored an aggressive 94 off 142 balls with 14 fours and a six, sharing a stand of 159 with Amla for the second wicket.

Fast bowler Shanta Sreesanth struck another blow for India three overs later when Amla chased a wide delivery and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik for 63.

Smith had taken the game to the visitors, driving left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan through mid-on for two consecutive fours.

But only 33 runs were scored in 20 overs before lunch after Smith fell.

Kallis and Ashwell Prince put on 83 for the fourth wicket before the former swept a leg-break from Sachin Tendulkar to Munaf Patel at mid-wicket on 54.

Eleven balls later Prince, on 26, dragged a ball from Kumble on to his leg stump as South Africa slipped to 260 for five.

Herschelle Gibbs was also out for seven before tea, nudging a delivery from off spinner Sehwag to Wasim Jaffer at short leg.

Kumble had figures of two for 95 while Sreesanth claimed two for 39.

REUTERS SAM BD1956