Durban: A power failure at Kingsmead cut into 40 minutes of play. For a side racing against the clock and battling the weather, the time lost could jeopardise a series-levelling win.

South Africa finished the day at 64 without loss in its second innings, ahead of India by 152 runs. But only two days remain in a Test, which has already lost more than 80 overs due to insufficient light.

At stumps on the third day of the second Castle Test, a still unconvincing Graeme Smith (28) and a free-stroking Abraham de Villiers (31) were together.

The left-handed Smith looked suspect in the corridor, was repeatedly opened up, but did essay a couple of fluent strokes through the on-side. De Villiers, who survived a venomous bouncer from V.R.V. Singh towards the end, pierced the off-side field with ease.

Earlier, three of the four floodlight pylons stopped working soon after tea.

By the time the power and the players returned, the light had deteriorated further. Only eight deliveries could be sent down after resumption.

Shortened sessions

With fading light shortening the evening sessions — the forecast is not good for the last two days either — the host faces a difficult declaration ahead. The bounce in the pitch is still consistent.

The Indians were dismissed for 240 in the afternoon, trailing the host by 88. The South African lead was whittled down by a cautious yet confident unbeaten effort by V.V.S. Laxman (50, 156b, 3x4) and some late order resistance. The South Africans have repeatedly run into roadblocks against the tail.

The morning conditions were ideal for swing. Graeme Smith relied on Andre Nel and Mkhaya Ntini. Pollock was surprisingly overlooked despite the cloud cover. He remains a threat, since he makes the batsmen play so often from the ideal off-stump line. And Pollock's pin-point accuracy creates the pressure.

Double strike

Sachin Tendulkar (63, 115b, 11x4) duly secured the three runs needed for a Test half-century, his first of the year. He then played a forgettable stroke — a shot straight from the one-day book.

The ball from Ntini was angled into the right-hander, was too close to the body for the adventurous dab shot. The fourth wicket pair added 64 in 22.1 overs, but Ntini had smelt blood.

Sourav Ganguly was undone by a nasty short-pitched delivery that seemed to follow him.

Ntini's wide off the crease release from over the wicket enables him to slant the ball into the left-hander. Ganguly was unable to get out of the way of a lifter. He stood his ground, more out of disappointment than conviction.

Ntini's double strike swung the game in the home team's favour. He has hit the right areas in the Test.

Laxman had just one moment of concern when he went for a pull against Ntini and survived a confident shout for caught behind. The batsman dug in but required support.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked Nel over mid-wicket, but the bowler responded with a mean delivery that struck the batsman on the helmet.

Dhoni in his quickfire 34 (39b, 7x4) struck some meaty blows.

The young Morne Morkel was thumped through point and cover.

Delicate touch

At the other end, V.V.S. Laxman's delicate touch came into play, the ball was caressed through the off-side field, squeezed past gaps in the legside. The sixth-wicket partnership — 54 in 13.1 overs — was assuming threatening proportions when Morkel, putting behind his no-balling problems, struck.

The lanky debutant induced Dhoni into a drive with a full-length delivery that moved away slightly. The alert de Villiers picked up a smart, low catch in the slips.

Morkel struck twice more in a productive spell of 6.2-0-22-3 before lunch. The youngster with a strong wrist action was lively and did extract bounce, however, he was helped by two wayward strokes from Anil Kumble and Zaheer.

India, at 183 for eight, was heading for a below-200 score.

While Ntini and Morkel had struck, Pollock had sent down a tight spell of 6-4-6-0. The runs were choked at one end.

Nel-Sreesanth battle

Nel hit Sreesanth on the helmet after the break — there is no love lost between the two — and the South Africans applauded.

But then, Nel and Morkel got carried away by the short-pitched stuff and provided width to Sreesanth.

Sreesanth showed character during his 28 (41b, 5x4) even if his methods — stepping down the track or creating room to slam through the off-side — were chancy.

He was struck a worrying blow on his knuckles, ducking into a bouncer from Andrew Hall, but willed himself on.

Laxman and Sreesanth added a crucial 52 for the ninth wicket in 11.4 overs.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa — 1st innings: 328.

India — 1st innings: W. Jaffer c de Villiers b Ntini 26, V. Sehwag c de Villiers b Nel 0, R. Dravid lbw b Nel 11, S. Tendulkar c Boucher b Ntini 63, V.V.S. Laxman (not out) 50, S. Ganguly c Gibbs b Ntini 0, M.S. Dhoni c de Villiers b Morkel 34, A. Kumble c Boucher b Morkel 0, Zaheer Khan c Amla b Morkel 2, S. Sreesanth c Boucher b Hall 28; V.R.V. Singh c Boucher b Pollock 4; Extras (b-1, lb-7, w-2, nb-12): 22; Total (in 77.5 overs): 240.

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Sehwag), 2-35 (Dravid), 3-61 (Jaffer), 4-125 (Tendulkar), 5-125 (Ganguly), 6-179 (Dhoni), 7-179 (Kumble), 8-183 (Zaheer), 9-235 (Sreesanth).

South Africa bowling: Nel 23-5-60-2, Ntini 15-4-41-3, Morkel 18-1-86-3, Pollock 14.5-10-17-1, Hall 7-0-28-1.

South Africa — 2nd innings: A.B. de Villiers (batting) 31, G. Smith (batting) 28; Extras (lb-2, w-1, nb-2): 5; Total (for no wkt. in 19.3 overs) 64.

India bowling: Zaheer 10-4-22-0; Sreesanth 7.3-2-20-0; V.R.V. Singh 2-0-20-0.

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