KEY POINTS:
DURBAN, South Africa - Makhaya Ntini struck twice before bad light took another huge chunk out of play on the fourth day of the second Test between South Africa and India at Kingsmead.
India were two for 38 after being set to make 354 to win.
Ntini (2-14)
dismissed Virender Sehwag before tea and then claimed the key wicket of Indian captain Rahul Dravid after the interval, just eight balls before play was called off early for the fourth successive day, with 35 overs still due to be bowled.
Dravid, the victim of a dubious lbw decision in the first innings, appeared to be unlucky again. He was drawn forward by Ntini and was given out by umpire Asad Rauf, although replays suggested his bat had made contact with his pad and not the ball.
South Africa's declaration left India, leading the three-match series 1-0, with a nominal 146 overs to make the runs or keep out the bowlers but given the weather pattern it seems unlikely that a full day's play will be possible on the final day Saturday, when 98 overs are scheduled to be bowled.
It was the fourth successive day on which bad light cut significantly into playing time. A total of 102 overs have already been lost -- more than have been required for any of the three innings so far.
Needing a win to have a chance of taking the series, South Africa batted aggressively despite losing six wickets for 44 runs at one stage before lunch.
Shaun Pollock made a stroke-filled 63 not out to enable South Africa to declare their second innings at 265 for eight.
Pollock shared quick-scoring half-century stands with Andrew Hall and Morne Morkel as South Africa recovered from a top order collapse.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, India's exciting young fast bowler, took three of the wickets as South Africa collapsed from none for 99 to 6-143. Sreesanth finished with four for 79, taking his tally for the series to 16.
VRV Singh made the first breakthrough, dismissing AB de Villiers for 47, before Sreesanth, 23, took three wickets in eight balls to plunge the home team into trouble.
One of Sreesanth's victims was South African captain Graeme Smith, who emerged from a batting slump to make 58.
But Pollock regained the initiative for South Africa in a 99-ball innings which included 10 fours.
- AFP