Rain halts South Africa's progress

CAPE TOWN, Jan 6 (Reuters) Rain intervened as Graeme Smith and surprise number four Shaun Pollock spirited South Africa towards victory in the third test against India in Cape Town today.

South Africa, needing 211 to win, were 111 for two in their second innings when rain stopped play in the 11th over of the day. No further play was possible before lunch.

Smith was 49 not out with Pollock on 25 in a stand of 56 for the unbroken third wicket.

Pollock, who batted at number eight in the first innings, resumed with Smith on South Africa's overnight score of 55 for two.

Pollock scored fluently, and helped South Africa push their run rate for the innings to 4.1 runs an over.

Left-hander Smith, scoring more slowly, faced the added challenge of deliveries from leg-spinner Anil Kumble that turned sharply out of the rough outside the off-stump.

Kumble opened the bowling with left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who was replaced by fast bowler Shanta Sreesanth in the sixth over of the morning.

Kumble went to lunch with figures of one for 36, while Khan took one for 38.

India won the first test by 123 runs in Johannesburg, before South Africa leveled the series by winning by 174 runs in Durban.

REUTERS SAM KP1654