KOLKATA, India (AFP) — Bad weather brought a brief respite to South Africa as India pressed for a series-levelling victory in the second and final cricket Test yesterday.

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 bowled during the day as a wet outfield caused by overnight rain delayed the start by 90 minutes and overcast conditions interrupted play regularly.

In the brief period of action, 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 had yet to score when the umpires finally called off play for the day.

India, who lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and six runs, will hope for a clear day on Thursday as they attempt to draw the series and retain their number one Test ranking.

The second-ranked South Africa will take over from India if the match ends in a draw, giving the Proteas a 1-0 series win.

South Africa still trail by 232 runs with seven wickets in hand, but Kallis was confident all was not lost for his team.

“The weather helped us today,” he said. “The wicket is still very good for batting. There is a little bit of a turn, but not as much as you come across normally in the subcontinent.

“There is also not much in it for the seamers and batting conditions are as good as they get.

“The guys have played the spinners well so far and there is no reason why we can’t survive 90-odd overs. If we can just be positive and keep the pressure on India, anything can happen.”

India declared their first innings on a mammoth 643-6, built on centuries by Virender Sehwag (165), Venkatsai Laxman (143 not out), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (132 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (106).

“We’ve had a very good Test match so far,” said India’s coach Gary Kirsten. “We’ve played very good cricket right through. We are in a good position and we’ll give it our best shot to win the game.”

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st innings: 296 (H Amla 114, A Petersen 100; Z Khan 4-90, H Singh 3-64)

India 1st innings: 643-6 decl (V Sehwag 165, V Laxman 143 no, M Dhoni 132 no, S Tendulkar 106; M Morkel 2-115)

South Africa 2nd innings:

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

Extras (nb5) 5

Total (for three wickets, 35 overs) 115

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Smith), 2-54 (Petersen), 3-111 (Kallis)

Bowling: Zaheer 6-0-32-0, Harbhajan 13-3-31-1, Sharma 8-1-36-0 (nb4), Mishra 7-3-15-2 (nb1), Sehwag 1-0-1-0

South Africa trail by 232 runs with seven wickets in hand

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Steve Davis (AUS)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).