South Africa & India set for series decider

With signs of bad blood between them, test cricket\'s leading teams head for a series-deciding third test in Cape Town, starting Sunday.



India powered back into contention in the three-match contest against South Africa _ and revived hopes of an historic first-ever series win in the country _ with an 87-run victory in the second test in Durban this week. It lost the first match by an innings.



India\'s win at Kingsmead was inspired by good, aggressive fast bowling from Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, but Sreesanth\'s sledging of South Africa captain Graeme Smith has now ensured that an already-dramatic decider will be even more fiercely contested.



Smith refused to say after the match what Sreesanth\'s comments were, but they have been criticized as personal insults by the South Africans and have added some spite to the rivalry between the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the test standings.



And, for the second time in successive series, the teams now face a crunch New Year game at Newlands _ Smith\'s home ground.



When India last toured the country, in 2006-07, the countries played out a New Year decider in Cape Town, which the Proteas took to clinch a fourth successive home series triumph over India.



Then, South Africa rebounded from a first test defeat to win the next two games in Durban and Cape Town for a come-from-behind 2-1 series win over an Indian team containing Sreesanth.



This time, the momentum is swinging the other way.



The top-ranked India fought back after its heavy loss in Centurion in the opener and the home team is now under fire after it was outplayed in the Indians\' series-leveling triumph _ and its much-praised batting lineup failed.



No South African batsman made a half-century in the match, with Ashwell Prince\'s second-innings 39 not out the best performance. Smith conceded it was South Africa\'s batsmen _ who racked up 620-4 declared in the first match _ who were at fault for the defeat.



\"It\'s the first time in a long time that our batters have let us down,\" Smith said. \"I thought India created a lot of pressure on us. Credit to India for bouncing back after the first test. That\'s why they are the No. 1 team in the world and it bodes well for the third match.



\"The Newlands test match is always an incredible test match to play ... and now that the series is set up at one-all its going to be even bigger.\"



India has its sights set on its first series success in five attempts in the country after the Durban win _ just its second in 14 tests in South Africa _ rejuvenated the tourists and confirmed their No. 1 test ranking. South Africa could have overtaken India if it won the series 3-0.



After an innings and 25-run loss at the hands of a rampant South Africa in the first game, India found its way back with aggressive bowling, which is normally South Africa\'s strength.



Quicks Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth and offspinner Harbhajan Singh led India\'s charge to victory inside four days in the second test as India rebounded from being bowled out for 136 in the first innings of the series to skittle South Africa for 131 and 215 and send it to its third consecutive loss in Durban.



However, in a seesaw series, the home team will be boosted by its strong record at Newlands where Australia is the only team to win a test since South Africa was readmitted to international cricket, post-apartheid.



South Africa last lost a test at Newlands in 2006 and has won 14 of 21 matches, with just three defeats to Australia, since 1993.



\"Our bowling, our batting and our fielding have to be at their best if we want to win the next test,\" India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. \"It\'s a big challenge for us ... everyone wants to perform really well.\"



India is likely to retain its lineup for the final test having brought in the fit-again Khan and middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara for the second match. Despite being ruled out of the upcoming one-day series with a shoulder problem, opener Virender Sehwag will be available for the final test, the team said.



South African batsman Jacques Kallis is also fit to play after x-rays on his left hand _ after he was hit on the glove and dismissed by a brilliant Sreesanth bouncer in Durban _ only revealed bruising.


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