Cricket: SA on the brink of series win

South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-9 and 48-2

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276

SOUTH AFRICA are poised to win their first series since returning to international cricket after an inconclusive fourth day in the fourth and final Test against India at Newlands, Cape Town yesterday.

With one day remaining, a draw is the likely outcome as South Africa, 1-0 ahead in the series, lead the tourists by 132 after reaching 48 for 2 in their second innings. They dismissed India for 276, taking the last four wickets for one run in four overs, for a first innings lead of 84. India's top scorer was 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, whose 73 was his best effort in four Test innings since his century in Johannesburg.

Javagal Srinath revived Indian hopes by taking two quick wickets when South Africa batted again, dismissing Andrew Hudson and Hansie Cronje for only 28. But India were denied further success when wicketkeeper Kiran More dropped Kepler Wessels, South Africa's captain, off Kapil Dev.

India resumed on 161 for 5 and Tendulkar, supported by Venkatapathy Raju, the nightwatchman, took the score to 200 before Raju was brilliantly caught by Darryl Cullinan at third slip. Only 54 runs came in the first session, but Tendulkar and Kapil Dev, who made 34, stepped up the rate after lunch and put on 75 in 27 overs for the seventh wicket. Craig Matthews, who took 3 for 32 in 28 overs, sent back More and Anil Kumble in five balls and the innings ended when Tendulkar was caught off Cronje by Hudson - his fourth catch in the innings.

(Fourth day: South Africa won toss)

SOUTH AFRICA - First innings: 360-9 dec (J N Rhodes 86, B M McMillan 52; A R Kumble 3-101).

INDIA - First Innings

(Overnight: 161 for 5)

S R Tendulkar c Hudson b Cronje. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Venkatapathy Raju c Cullinan b Matthews. . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Kapil Dev c Hudson b Cronje. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

] K S More lbw b Matthews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

A Kumble c Hudson b Matthews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

J Srinath not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Extras (lb7 w3 nb1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276

Fall: 1-44 2-129 3-138 4-144 5-153 6-200 7-275 8-276 9-276.

Bowling: Donald 36-13-58-2; McMillan 36-9-76-2; Matthews 28-12-32-3; Cronje 18.4-8-17-2; Henry 33-8-86-1.

SOUTH AFRICA - Second Innings

* K C Wessels not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

A C Hudson c More b Srinath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

W S Cronje c More b Srinath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

P N Kirsten not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Extras (lb1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Total (for 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Fall: 1-20 2-28.

Umpires: D Shepherd (Eng); K Liebenberg and B Lambson (SA).