Ishant's revenge and a lesson in patience

The UDRS is not being used in this series, but there was still a referral. Morne Morkel pitched the second delivery of the 52nd over full on middle stump, and Ishant Sharma got a leading edge back to him. Morkel took the catch but he ended up not being able to claim the wicket. Umpire Ian Gould asked for a replay to see if Morkel had overstepped, which he had. Karma repaid Sharma kindly for the time when he had Michael Clarke caught off a no-ball in Mohali in October earlier this year and Clarke almost walked off the ground before being called back.

After Sachin Tendulkar smacked Paul Harris over mid-off for six to move to 97, a section of the crowd on the grandstand began a chant. "Go Tendulkar, Go Tendulkar" they sang. The chant lasted for every ball Tendulkar faced, 14 in total, before he brought up his 50th Test century. A cluster of Indian flags could be spotted amongst the singers. Indians have come out in their numbers to show their support.

Tendulkar was batting on 97 and had to face four deliveries from Morkel, but it seemed the bowler was the one with more nerves. Perhaps he was just scared he would get the great man out before he reached his milestone. He punctuated the over with short balls, the first of which was way down the leg side and raced away for five wides. Boucher dived to his left, but couldn't get to it in time. The butterflies in Morkel's stomach seemed to start flying faster and three balls later, he again strayed down leg and gave away four byes. Nine runs had come off the last four balls of the over but Tendulkar was still stuck on 97 at the end of it.

With Tendulkar on 97, MS Dhoni was keen to see him get to his 50th century. So keen that he ran halfway down the pitch after Tendulkar had dabbed a Paul Harris delivery only as far as AB de Villiers at backward short leg. Tendulkar sent him back and Dhoni only just made his ground at the non-striker's end. Good things, the skipper will learn, only come to those who wait.

The doors of the suites near the media centre started banging shut, the sky darkened and the wind picked up. Lightning bolts went off all around the ground and one of the umpires' hats sailed off his head. An umbrella from Castle corner was uprooted from its position on the grass embankment and flew towards the field. With that, the players ran off, holding on to their caps, hats and in Jacques Kallis' case, his hair. The rain stayed away for 15 minutes but when it finally came down, it did so with a vengeance.