Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar hit their second successive centuries before South Africa staged a late fightback on day two of the second and final Test, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.
At close, India were 342 for five in 76 overs, a lead of 46 runs, after South Africa were bowled out for 296 in their first innings in the morning.
Sehwag benefitted from two lifelines to score 165 from 174 deliveries, inclusive of 23 boundaries and two sixes, before falling to part-timer J P Duminy. He was involved in a huge partnership of 249 runs off 348 deliveries for the third wicket with Tendulkar, who scored his fourth century on the trot.
Tendulkar continued his good run with the bat, scoring 106 from 206 deliveries, inclusive of 12 boundaries, before he was caught at first slip off Paul Harris.
South Africa staged a late comeback, claiming three wickets for five runs, including those of Tendulkar, Sehwag and S Badrinath, to regain a bit of the initiative the hosts had.
Earlier, resuming on 266 for nine, South Africa's last pair added 30 runs before Zaheer Khan trapped Wayne Parnell leg before wicket for 12 to finish off the tourists' first innings.
Zaheer played a crucial role in India's comeback, claiming four for 90 in 22 overs, while Harbhajan Singh claimed three for 64.
Hashim Amla (114) and Alviro Petersen (100) had scored centuries on Day 1 to set up a solid foundation before the middle order failed to come to the party. South Africa had lost their way completely after the tea break, losing seven wickets for 38 runs in 25 overs in the post-tea session.
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