Rain frustrated India’s proceeding on the fourth day of the second and final Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Proteas finished the day on which a little more than a third of the overs could be bowled on 115/3 for an overall trail of 232 runs with 98 overs left to play on the final day.

The hosts have to take out seven South African wickets and avoid their first home series loss since the defeat by Australia in 2004 and more important they try to seize on to their number-one ranking.

South Africa’s best batsman Jacques Kallis back in hut for 20 as earlier resuming on six without loss, lost both openers Graeme Smith (20) and Alviro Petersen (21) either side of lunch before Amla, who scored centuries in his two previous outings, frustrated India in forging a partnership of 57 with Kallis.

Crucially the Proteas have lost three key wickets including Kallis but the batting hero of the tour, Hashim Amla (49 not out) is still at the crease in partnership with Ashwell Prince.

For India Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni had all pile up centuries to put India in control, with the hosts having declared on 643-6 after South Africa made 296 in their first innings.