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PHOTOS: Kallis, de Villiers stand puts SA on top
India's left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed four wickets but Jacques Kallis hit a defiant half-century in his last match to give South Africa the upperhand on the rain-hit day three of the second and final Test in Durban, on Saturday.
South Africa were 299 for five in 104.5 overs before rain and bad light ended play early on the third day with Kallis unbeaten on a solid knock of 78 and Dale Steyn yet to open his account.
Countering the loss of three wickets in the first session, Kallis and AB de Villiers hit half-centuries to lift the hosts in reply to India's first innings score of 334.
De Villiers continues good run
De Villiers, who hit a match-saving century in the previous match, was involved in another good partnership to rescue South Africa after a few quick wickets early on the third day.
South Africa started at 181/3 as the runs came in quickly. Both batsmen stroked boundaries at will, as the pace bowlers searched for some reverse swing. Zaheer was punished in particular, but de Villiers also aggressive intent against Jadeja, not letting the spinners settle down.
He brought up his half-century in the 62nd over of the innings. It was his 34th fifty in 89 Tests. The 100-run partnership came three overs later, as runs continued to come unabated.
In their eagerness to score quickly, South Africa almost lost a wicket when the two batsmen were involved in a huge mix-up in the 69th over.
De Villiers nudged the ball and set off for a run, then stopped, but Kallis kept going. Zaheer failed to hit the stumps, as the first hour after lunch resulted in 55 runs.
Jadeja finally broke their partnership, in the 74th over. De Villiers prodded forward and was caught at first slip by Virat Kohli after scoring 74 runs off 117 balls, with nine fours.
Jadeja does the damage with the ball
In the morning session, Graeme Smith (47) and Alviro Petersen (62) looked to further increase their opening stand. The latter reached his seventh half-century in Tests, but should have been out in the 24th over, even as the third umpire ruled him not out off a very close stumping call off Jadeja.
The 100-run opening stand came in the 27th over, and in the very next, Jadeja, who had been looking to take a wicket, finally struck.
Smith went for a big shot over mid-on, but mistimed it on deep square leg where Shikhar Dhawan ran back and completed a good catch.
Mohammed Shami then dismissed Hashim Amla for three as the right-hander registered his third successive failure with the bat.
At the other end, with the crowd roaring for him, Kallis brought up his half-century in the 76th over, off 131 balls hitting nine fours. It was his 59th fifty in his 166th and final Test.
Petersen edged one to Murali Vijay
Kallis came out to bat in his last Test to a huge cheer from his home fans at Kingsmead, while the Indian team also lined up to salute the legendary all-rounder.
Jadeja continued India's wicket ways as he got Petersen caught by Murali Vijay at first slip for 62.
The first Test of the series, played at Johannesburg, was drawn, after a pulsating fifth day, wherein South Africa just stopped eight runs short of a world-record fourth innings' chase after India had set them a target of 458 runs.