PORT ELIZABETH, Nov 17: South African captain Shaun Pollock tore through the Indian top-order to send India reeling after the second day of the second Test here Saturday.

Fast bowler Pollock took four for 38, stealing the limelight after Herschelle Gibbs had made 196.

His first three victims, including Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, came in the space of 20 deliveries as India, replying to the home side’s 362, limped to 182 for eight when bad light ended play early.

But Vangipurappu Laxman saved India from total collapse — and the follow-on — after they had been reduced to 119 for eight.

He ended on 77 not out off 102 balls, including nine fours as he and Anil Kumble (21 not out) put on an unbroken 63-run stand for the ninth wicket.

When the pair had come together India were still 44 runs short of the follow-on.

South Africa had resumed on 237 for five and were dismissed two overs after lunch. Herschelle Gibbs improved his overnight score of 155 not out to 196 while paceman Javagal Srinath took six for 76, his 10th five wicket haul.

Gibbs was at the crease for seven-and-a-half hours in which he faced 353 balls and hit 25 fours and a six in scoring more than half of South Africa’s total.

Mark Boucher batted aggressively before he was left stranded on 68 not out, hitting nine fours and a six in a 70-ball knock.

India’s problems, in reply, began in the fifth over when Pollock trapped Shiv Sunder Das in front for one.

Four overs later Rahul Dravid saw his middle stump cartwheel for two, and in Pollock’s next over Tendulkar mistimed a pull shot and was easily caught by Lance Klusener at mid-on for a single.

Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini added to India’s woes when he bowled makeshift opener Deep Dasgupta for 13, ending a stabilising fourth-wicket stand of 32 scored with Saurav Ganguly.

Indian captain Ganguly fell to his South African counterpart seven overs later when Pollock bowled him through the gate for a pugnacious 42 that included seven fours.

Fast bowler Jacques Kallis bowled what became the last ball before drinks when Virender Sehwag sliced it low to Gary Kirsten in the gully to be dismissed for 13.

Ajit Agarkar scored one before edging a delivery in Kallis’ next over to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, and Harbhajan Singh perished for nought in a senseless runout that featured both he and Laxman running towards the same end.