Nagpur, Feb 8 - Virender Sehwag was leading the Indian charge with an unbeaten half century after South African pacers jolted the top order with three strikes in an absorbing morning session on the third day of the first cricket Test.

At lunch, India reached 119 for three with Sehwag on 63 and giving him company was debutant Subramaniam Badrinath on 21. The two shared a 63-run stand after India were tottering at 56 for three. India trail by 439 runs.

Dale Steyn (2-32) and Morne Morkel (1-31) rattled the Indian top order, bowling with pace and extracting considerable bounce and movement from the wicket.

Resuming at 25 without loss, India lost Gautam Gambhir in the second over of the morning and the very first ball the left-hander faced.

A beautiful angling delivery from Morkel caught Gambhir on the crease and the in-form batsman edged behind to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

The tall Morkel worked up ferocious pace, touching 145 kmph consistently. He was accurate with his line, probing the batsmen round the off-stump. Steyn at the other end troubled Sehwag and Murali Vijay, who replaced injured Rahul Dravid in the match, with his away going deliveries.

Sehwag, however, was never hesitant to free his arm whenever he got a chance.

Steyn finally got the better of Vijay, who was wrong in judging the delivery and left it but the ball nipped back sharply to crash into his stumps.

Steyn bowled a nagging line to Tendulkar, who played 16 balls for his seven, before edging one behind.

Sehwag was not rattled by the proceedings and struck left-handed seamer Wayne Parnell for two crushing straight fours. Sehwag struck eight fours in his 90-ball knock.

Badrinath, with loads of first class experience, showed good technique to weather the storm. He played 45 balls for his 21 with one four off Steyn. (IANS)