India’s lower-order batsmen frustrated South Africa and stretched their first innings lead to 106 runs in the second and final Test at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
India were all out for 411 at the stroke of lunch on the fourth day in reply to South Africa’s 305.
The home side, resuming at 359-6, added 52 runs during the morning although fast bowler Makhaya Ntini’s two wickets ensured the score was not inflated further.
Ntini accounted for overnight batsman Irfan Pathan (24) and Anil Kumble (eight), both of whom were caught in the slips, and finished as the most successful bowler for South Africa with 4-112.
Dinesh Karthik (46) was trapped lbw by paceman Shaun Pollock while Harbhajan Singh (14) was the last man out as he top-edged a reverse-sweep to Boeta Dippenaar at cover, giving leg-spinner Justin Ontong his maiden Test wicket in his second match.
Last-man Zaheer Khan remained not out on 11 off 32 deliveries.
The winner of this match will take the series as the first Test in Kanpur ended in a draw last week. – Sapa-AFP