Graeme Smith declared South Africa’s second innings closed on 265 for eight about an hour after lunch on the fourth day of the second Castle Lager Test at Kinsgmead on Friday, setting the visitors the challenging target of 354 to win.
At tea, India had 18 for one and still trailed by 336 runs. A brisk half century by Shaun Pollock helped South Africa push the total up after a morning in which the Proteas lost six wickets.
Pollock and Andrew Hall put on 70 runs for the seventh wicket ‒- their half century partnership coming off 86 balls.
Hall was given out lbw to Shanthakumaran Sreesanth in the fifth over after lunch -‒ one of the several marginal lbw decisions by umpire Asad Rauf, as the ball appeared to be going down the leg side.
Hall made 21.
Morne Morkel -‒ who was just 11 years old when Pollock first played for South Africa -‒ joined the veteran, and together they put on 52 runs, before Morkel was caught by Vikram Singh off Virender Sehwag for 28.
Pollock reached his 16th Test 50 off 89 balls, and he was undefeated on 63.
Makhaya Ntini struck a blow for South Africa when Smith took a good catch in the slips to dismiss Sehwag for eight.
At tea, Wasim Jaffer was not out on six and Rahul Dravid had one. – Sapa