Steyn/Kallis vs Tendulkar/Sreesanth

Although cricket is a team game, the most riveting contests are sometimes dominated by individuals. In the ongoing series decider between the top two sides in the world, the best performers in both sides have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack.

Jacques Kallis, a dour and unimaginative batsman at the best of times, single-handedly held up the South African challenge to the best team in the world in this most crucial of games at Cape Town. A series-losing collapse to 130/6 was converted to a potentially winning score of 341.

He stood up to the fiery Shanta Sreesanth in the first innings, alone to display technique against pace and spin among the ruins of a South African batting lineup reduced to pitiful whining against Sree's antics. Even after a side injury induced by a bouncer into the ribs from Sree, Kallis showed character that one did not suspect him of possessing.

Sachin Tendulkar's supreme effort eclipsed even that of Kallis. He resisted an awesome spell of high-speed swing bowling under bright sunshine conjured up by the game's best fast bowler, Dale Steyn, and scored a big and resolute ton when the rest of the Indian batting lineup folded up weakly as they have done so many times abroad in the past. India ended with a slender lead of 2 runs. One can only wonder what Steyn might have done in overcast conditions, had Smith won the toss.

Injured as he was, Kallis still had some juice left for the second innings, which he was doubtful to play. This time around, Harbhajan Singh played the destroyer on a deteriorating pitch, albeit still unable to dislodge the rock.

Sreesanth was a shadow of the bowler he was in the first innings, or the second innings of the previous game, muted by Dhoni's unnecessary public criticism of his behavior and perhaps distracted by the bottles and barracking rained upon him by unruly South African crowds, while Zaheer's weak pace and Ishant's wayward bowling ensured they were not factors in the match. All the responsibility was on Harbhajan's shoulders, and he responded with a 7-wicket haul.

India now face a formidable task on the final day to resist defeat on a pitch that will not let them simply defend away balls on their way to a draw. Entertaining thoughts of getting past the 340 margin on day 5 may be foolhardy, yet it would be foolish to present dead bat and hope for the best. The wearing track and hungry opposition bowlers will not allow it.

They will need to strike a delicate balance between offense and defense.

Whether Tendulkar, like Kallis, will once again wage a lone battle for India, or the likes of Sehwag, Laxman and Dravid rise to the occasion remains to be seen. Gambhir can look to Kallis as a model for performing under injury, and all eyes will be on Virender Sehwag whose raw and explosive potential holds the key to any Indian dreams of winning.

Also key will be whether South Africa will be forced to resort to the weak spin of Harris, or Steyn can prove as dangerous as he was earlier, on a cracking and dusty pitch, in contrast to his Indian counterparts.

This is cricket at its best and defines the meaning of "test" in test cricket.

The mind will play a bigger role than bat or ball tomorrow. It will be a golden opportunity for South Africa to shed the label of "chokers" they have held for so long.

And if there is a result at the end of the day, the winner of the contest can surely lay claim to the title of best team in the world.