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Dale Steyn reacts after dismissing Murali Vijay

Nagpur: A fiery opening fast bowling spell from Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn peg back India as the host lost three wickets in the morning session as they reach 119/3 at lunch with a fighting half-century from Virender Sehwag on the third day of the first Test at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur.

The pace duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel dished out brilliant express spells to dismiss in-form opener Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay and ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar cheaply before India recovered through the enterprise shown by Sehwag.

Sehwag's typically aggressive knock of 63 included eight fours in 90 balls. In his company was debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (21), who faced 54 balls.

The fourth wicket duo came together when the hosts were in deep rut at 56 for three at the fall of Tendulkar's wicket in the 15th over.

Sehwag and Badrinath stemmed the rot with an unbroken half century stand worth 63 runs by the end of the session.

India added 94 runs in 27 overs in the period.

At the break, the hosts were 240 runs behind their first task of escaping follow on and in all were 439 runs adrift of the tourists huge total. It was an ordeal by fire for the Indian top order when play started with the home team at 25 for no loss.

The first to go was Gambhir without adding a run to his overnight score of 12. He was out to the first ball he faced from the tall Morkel, edging it to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Gambhir's dismissal brought in Vijay on the number three spot because of the injury-forced absence of Rahul Dravid.

Vijay, playing in only his fourth Test match, made a grave error in judging a delivery from Steyn that swung into him and crashed into the stumps.

But worse was to follow for the home team when their senior batting architect Tendulkar was packed off after a 35-minute stay by Steyn. The 26-year-old pacer brought Tendulkar forward for a drive with a late out-swinger that the ace batsman could only edge to Boucher.

The only bright spot for India was the calm assurance shown by Sehwag even with the wickets clattering around him.

He batted with the freedom that's been his hallmark and was quick to pounce on a slightly loose ball from the bowlers.

Sehwag also coaxed and cajoled debutant Badrinath during their fourth wicket stand by constantly going up to offer advice and encouragement to the new comer who started nervously with a streaky shot through the slips for four.

Steyn and Morkel were taken off the firing line soon after the first hour's play in which India advanced to 67 for three, adding 42 runs in 13 overs and losing three top-order batsmen. The fiery Steyn had bowled an impressive morning spell of 7-2-24-2 while Morkel's opening spell today read 6-2-18-1.

At the other end Badrinath also showed signs of having settled down from his nervous beginning as the duo strung together an important partnership to try and resurrect the innings from doldrums.