Bad weather brought a brief respite to South Africa as India pressed for a series-levelling victory in the second and final cricket Test on Wednesday. The tourists, trailing by 347 runs on the first innings, lost three key wickets on the rain-curtailed fourth day to stutter to 115-3 in their second knock by stumps at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Just 34.1 overs were sent down during the day as a wet outfield caused by overnight rain delayed the start by 90 minutes and overcast conditions interrupted play regularly. Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 49 and Ashwell Prince had yet to score when the umpires finally called off play for the day. South Africa still trail by 232 runs with seven wickets in hand, but Kallis was confident all was not lost for his team.
Mishra struck off his first delivery, trapping Smith in front of the wicket to cap a miserable outing for the South African skipper in the series. Smith scored just 30 runs in three innings. Off-spinner Harbhajan gave India the breakthrough in the post-lunch session when he got rid of first-innings centurion Petersen (21) in his second over after the break. The Test series will be followed by three one-day internationals at Jaipur (February 21), Gwalior (February 24) and Ahmedabad (February 27).
-- South Africa 1st innings: 296
-- India 1st innings: 643-6 decl.
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South Africa 2nd innings
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G. Smith lbw b Mishra 20
A. Petersen c Badrinath b Harbhajan 21
Hashim Amla not out 49
J. Kallis c Dhoni b Mishra 20
A. Prince not out 0
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Extras: (nb5) 5
Total: (for three wickets) 115
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