INDIA were left needing a second monumental innings from their captain Sachin Tendulkar after South Africa took a tight grip of the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town yesterday.

Tendulkar, who made a brilliant 169 in India's first innings to ensure they avoided the follow on, was undefeated on six at the close of the fourth day as India, set an unlikely 427 to win, struggled to 52 for three.

His task is to bat all day today to avoid a second defeat or, more improbably, help India score a further 375 runs to level the three Test series.