CAPE TOWN // When Ashwell Prince sliced Ishant Sharma to the point fielder in the third over after lunch, India's players must have thought they had one hand on the series trophy. South Africa were a mere 128 in front with just four wickets standing.
More than four and a half hours later, Jacques Kallis walked away from the Newlands pitch with an unbeaten 109 to his name, his second century of the game and the 40th of a remarkable career.
No South African had ever made two centuries in a game on two occasions. And he did it all with a muscle strain that caused him to wince with pain several times during the course of an epic 380-minute effort.
More importantly, it left India needing 340 on the final day to win the series. Apart from Steve Waugh's legendary Australian side of 2002, who hunted down 331, no team has managed to chase such a target at this famous venue. Realistically, India will need to survive 90 overs on a pitch of uneven bounce, against two pace bowlers capable of bowling at 140 km/hr.
Yet, when Prince departed, it was victory and not survival that they were thinking of. The next man in, Mark Boucher, had lasted one ball in the first innings and made just 17 in the series. There was talk that it would be his last Test, that the selectors would ease him out.
Over a 138-Test career, the East London-born wicketkeeper has gained a reputation as a ferocious scrapper, and that tenacity was in full view as the afternoon unfolded. Initially, the Indians attacked. Then they became anxious. By the time Boucher departed, leg before to a Sachin Tendulkar delivery that kept really low, hope had given way to despondency.
At the other end, Kallis held it together as only he can. He had come to the crease 11 balls into the morning, after Harbhajan trapped Alviro Petersen in front. Hashim Amla's attempt at a sweep then deflected on to the stumps via his arm, and the situation looked hopeless once AB de Villiers played on to Zaheer Khan after an uncharacteristically sedate 13.
Kallis started with a powerful pull and an audacious reverse-sweep and though he adopted more circumspect methods later, India could do little to stop the runs once he and Boucher started to find the gaps in the field.
"I know Jacques' game nearly as well as my own, so it didn't surprise me," said Boucher afterwards. "I don't think anyone understands the pain he's in at the moment.
"The doctor told me it's like breaking a rib. It just shows the character of the guy."
Having taken four or five injections in order to be able to bat, Kallis worked the ball off his pads and cut it with tremendous power. There were also a couple of magnificent straight drives as India's dominance evaporated in the afternoon heat.
When Boucher departed, India still had a glimmer of hope, with the lead 231. But Dale Steyn (32) and Morne Morkel (28) both threw the bat around merrily as Kallis eased his way towards three figures.
The last three wickets added 108, with even Lonwabo Tsotsobe smearing two fours.
Harbhajan, who finished with seven for 120, was understandably subdued after the reversal of fortune.
"At one stage, we were in a very good position," he said. "From there on, we could have created more chances. We didn't bowl as well as we should have.
"Kallis showed what a big player he is. I've not seen many people handle a situation the way he did today."
Just over two years ago, India chased down 387 against England in Chennai, with Virender Sehwag contributing a 67-ball 82 and Sachin Tendulkar making a century.
"Our approach will be to see off the new ball," said Harbhajan. "We need some firecrackers from Sehwag. If he gets going, anything can be chased. I hope he clicks tomorrow."
