Zaheer Khan provides the inspiration

Zaheer Khan didn't have a good record at the Eden Gardens coming into this match. He set it right by picking three big wickets, and keeping India in the contest that will decide the No. 1 Test team in the world.

The first one of those wickets was as routine as a breakfast. He has a vice grip over South Africa's premiere batsman and captain, Graeme Smith, and he tightened it further. He first troubled him bowls that swung both ways, then gave him the stare that told the batsman he could get him any time, and then produced the perfect inducker, pitching up, seaming in, exploiting the gap between bat and pad that Smith presents, and sending the off stump for a walk. But it was his next two wickets that triggered an amazing turnaround for India, putting watchers in the mind of the 2000-01 Test at the same time against Australia.

South Africa had reached 218 for 1 thanks to assured and quick centuries from Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen, and India were looking for and not finidng inspiration anywhere. Ishant Sharma had just bowled a spell in the afternoon full of bouncers, hitting Amla - not out on 100-plus - in the arm guard once, but had overdone the short stuff.

Zaheer, though, got the wickets, one each either side of tea, and both of them centurions. He did Petersen in with the slight seam away from around off, and then got a top edge from Amla. Two wickets for 11 runs, game on again, and then Harbhajan took over.

That twin strike wasn't his last contribution of the day. He got rid of the one batsman capable of severe counterattacks, AB de Villiers, with a superb bit of fielding. de Villiers wanted a single and strike, Steyn reckoned there was no need to panic, and sent him back. Zaheer ran in from mid-off to cover, picked up and threw in one motion, and found de Villiers short.