Bad light halts India's victory march against South Africa in Kolkata

India were left with just one day to push for a series-levelling win after rain and bad light truncated most of penultimate day's proceedings in the second cricket Test against South Africa here today.

Only 34.1 overs could be bowled between the weather disruptions and the Indian spinners managed to knock off three South Africans wickets to reduce them to 115 in 35 overs.

Hashim Amla once again stands between India and victory after his patient 80-ball 49 with Ashwell Prince (0) giving him company at stumps.

South Africa still need 232 runs to make India bat again in the match even though the hosts would hope to polish off the remaining seven wickets tomorrow to draw the series and remain the number one Test team.

Both the Indian spinners Amit Mishra (2/15) and Harbhajan Singh (1/31) troubled the South African batsmen with plenty of turn that was on offer at the Eden Gardens pitch.

Even though Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men are eager to have a go at the South Africans tomorrow, there is bad news for them as the Met office forecast predicted more rain tomorrow.

The final day's proceedings tomorrow will be held half-an-hour in advance and the play is scheduled to begin at 8.45am.  The match got off to a delayed start of about one-and-half hours and less than three hours' play was possible today.

The fourth day's proceedings were scheduled to begin at 8.57am to have a total of 95 overs of play but overnight showers meant that play could not be started on time.

Umpires Ian Gould and Steve Davis had their first inspection at 9.30am and another 30 minutes later. Curator Prabir Mukherjee and the groundsmen also sprang into action and play eventually began at 10.30am and it was decided to have a total of 82.1 overs for the day.

South Africa resumed at six for no loss with Zaheer finishing the last ball of his incomplete first over and Dhoni pressed leading spinner Harbhajan into service but the ploy did not have the desired result immediately.

Dhoni introduced Mishra in the 13th over and the leg-spinner responded by claiming rival skipper Graeme Smith (20) with his very first delivery that trapped the left-hander plumb in front and the Eden Gardens crowd erupted in joy.

Playing with a fractured finger, Smith was thoroughly tested by Zaheer Khan who generated enough bounce and swing to trouble the batsman.

In the fifth over of the day, Zaheer almost gave India a breakthrough in the form of Alviro Petersen who was on two.

The debutant South African opener, who carved a century in the first innings, had an outside edge that zipped past a diving VVS Laxman at second slip but the Hyderabadi could not reach.

Mishra eventually drew first blood when he removed Smith and South Africa lost their first wicket at 36.

Harbhajan opened his account 3.2 overs after lunch, with the scalp of debutant Petersen. The first innings centurion had to depart for 21 after he inside-edged one to short leg where S Badrinath pouched it in his second attempt.

The second wicket pair of of Amla and Petersen contributed just 18 runs and with India making in-roads through Harbhajan in his happy-hunting ground, the crowd started celebration in an anticipation of an early victory.

Harbhajan nearly had his second victim a couple of overs later but Amla, on 10, was dropped by Murali Vijay at backward short-leg in what appeared a difficult chance.

It turned in sharply from outside the off-stump and took the edge and after hitting the pad it flew low as Vijay was little late in reacting.

Soon light started fading even though play continued. Under the gloomy condition, South Africa lost another wicket as Mishra ended the 57-run Amla-Jacques Kallis partnership.

Just when the duo took the South Africa past 100-run and began to consolidate on their partnership, a sharp leg break from Mishra ended Kallis' (20) stay.

As Kallis was leaning forward to defend, the ball spun sharply taking the edge for Dhoni to do the needful.

Four balls after Kallis departed with South Africa 111 for three, umpires stopped play because of bad light at 1.45pm.

Minutes later, it started drizzling as the groundsmen rushed to the field with the covers.