Rain halts India’s victory charge

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: February 17, 2010

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Kolkata: Bad weather interrupted India’s victory charge and brought some respite to South Africa, providing them with a chance to salvage a draw even as India has the upper hand going into the final day of the second and final test at the Eden Gardens.

The tourists, who were trailing by 347 runs in the first innings, lost three key wickets on the rain-curtailed fourth day to finish at 115-3 in their second innings by stumps at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Just 34.1 overs were bowled during the day as a wet outfield caused by overnight rain delayed the start by 90 minutes and overcast conditions and bad light interrupted play regularly.

In the few overs sent down in the day, leg-spinner Amit Mishra sent back skipper Graeme Smith (20) and Jacques Kallis (20), and Harbhajan Singh dismissed Alviro Petersen. Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 49 and Ashwell Prince was yet to get off the mark when the umpires finally called off play for the day.

India, which lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and six runs, will now be hoping to get a full day’s play on Thursday as they attempt to draw the series and retain their number one Test ranking.

South Africa, who are currently ranked second in the ICC Test rankings, will take over from India if the match ends in a draw, giving the Proteas a 1-0 series win.

Match Summary:

South Africa 296 and 115 for 3 (Amla 49*, Mishra 2-15) trail India 643 for 6 dec by 232 runs

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