Spinners Star For India On Curtailed Fourth Day

Spinners Star For India On Curtailed Fourth Day

Groundstaff attempt to dry the playing area during the fourth day of the second Test in Kolkata.

©REUTERS/Arko Datta (INDIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET ENVIRONMENT) Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Africa 296 & 115-3 (Amla 49no) v
India 643-6 dec. (Sehwag 165, Laxman 143no, Dhoni 132no)
Second Test, Kolkata, day four

South Africa's chances of saving the second and final Test against India were boosted as only 34.1 overs of play were possible on the fourth day.

However, that did not stop the Indian spinners from picking up three wickets to leave the Proteas on 115 for three in their second innings, trailing by 232 runs and with key batsman Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis already dismissed.

India were also hampered by an injury to Zaheer Khan and were heavily reliant on Amit Mishra (2-15) and Harbhajan Singh (1-31) to put the South Africans under pressure.

Mishra struck with his first ball to have Smith trapped in front for 20 and later on had Kallis caught by wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with a gripping leg-break for the same score.

Off-spinner Harbhajan struck to remove first-innings centurion Alviro Petersen, who clipped to the ball to Subramaniam Badrinath. He made 21 but fellow first-innings centurion Hashim Amla looked in good touch, reaching 49 before play was finally called off after stoppages for both rain and bad light.

South Africa were bowled out for 296 despite Amla and Petersen reaching three figures in their first innings, and in reply, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni all notched up centuries as India scored 643 for six before declaring.

South Africa lead the series 1-0.

© Cricket World 2010

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