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Virender Sehwag launched into the South African attack, taking only 194 balls to reach his fourth Test double-century © AFP

By tea on the third day, Sehwag had made more than two-third of India's runs, with 287 being added to the overnight total of 82 at well over four an over. The first-wicket partnership ended at 213, with Wasim Jaffer contributing a dogged 73, but that was merely the signal for Sehwag to unleash a fusillade of strokes before the intervals. South Africa's five bowlers toiled away with no reward on an unforgiving pitch and by tea, a couple of them were looking a little shell-shocked.He did get some late swing, but nothing that could be construed as threatening and the bulk of the work went to Paul Harris, who finally switched to a round-the-wicket line to snare Jaffer. Jaffer's had been the perfect anchor role, and when he flirted at one outside off stump that actually turned a little, Jacques Kallis took a fine catch low at slip.

Every so often the ball would be flayed through the covers when the pace bowlers gave him a bit of room, and when it came to Harris, there was either the inside-out loft over cover or the finely placed paddle sweep. Smith had brought back Makhaya Ntini, who had gone for 22 from three overs in the morning, and Sehwag whipped a massive six over long leg to get to 199. A ball later, a twirl of the wrists sent the ball speeding through midwicket, taking him to 202 from just 194 balls.

It was his 10th successive hundred in excess of 150, an unprecedented feat, and it must have made the selectors who dropped him from the Test side cringe more than a little. India had started the day as though they meant business, with Jaffer pulling Ntini for four, and Smith was soon forced into an early change. Ntini's three overs went for 22. Steyn bowled at lively pace, but again there was so little assistance from the conditions that he was soon left to make disgruntled and rueful faces.The pick of the bowlers was Morkel, who sent a couple of deliveries thudding through at express pace and beat the outside edge more than once. But apart from a Jaffer edge that fell well short of Mark Boucher, there weren't even half-chances to encourage the bowlers. Jaffer eventually got to his 50 from 107 balls, more than content to paddle in Sehwag's wake.

There was also a powerful reverse-sweep that sped behind point for four.