Gibbs leads attack on Indian bowling

India 379 South Africa 327-3

Herschelle Gibbs led an impressive South Africa fightback on the second day of the First Test here yesterday. After taking the three remaining Indian wickets early on, South Africa moved to within 52 runs of the tourists for the loss of three wickets.

Gibbs did not once look troubled on his way to a fourth Test century and he laid the foundations for what could be a daunting total with fellow opener Gary Kirsten. They scored 189 for the first wicket.

Anil Kumble finally accounted for Kirsten after the left-handed opener, who, despite his conservative innings still included 12 fours, was beaten in the air as he attempted to slog-sweep a flighted delivery from outside off stump from the leg-spinner and was bowled for 73.

The departure of Kirsten did not make Gibbs change his attacking policy and he continued to strike the ball cleanly, hitting two sixes and 16 fours for his first century against India.

He made 107 before hitting an uppish drive off Javagal Srinath straight to Ashish Khan at mid-off. But Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie kept the hosts on top. McKenzie scored his sixth Test half-century as he dominated the third-wicket partnership of 130 while Kallis moved on to an unbeaten 49. McKenzie fell to the last ball of the day, trapped lbw for 68.

* Pakistan took the Sharjah Champions Trophy yesterday with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final. Pakistan took advantage of undisciplined Sri Lanka batting to dismiss them for 173 in 44.2 overs with Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis sharing eight wickets, and eased to success in 43.4 overs.