South Africa 328 & 64-0 India 240: Smith and de Villiers put Proteas in command

South Africa were in command on day three of the second Test against India at Kingsmead in Durban after reaching 64 without loss in their second innings when bad light stopped play.

The Proteas captain Graeme Smith (28 not out) and A B de Villiers (31 not out) extended the hosts' lead to 152 runs before the clouds closed in. Earlier in the day V V S Laxman made an unbeaten half-century but the tourists were dismissed for 240 to give South Africa a first innings lead of 88, with the pace bowler Morne Morkel (3 for 86) taking centre stage on his Test debut.

The English umpire Mark Benson left the middle after only one ball of the fourth over of the day to be replaced by South African Ian Howell. It was later revealed that the 48-year-old former opening batsman had been admitted to hospital for an electrocardiogram as a precautionary measure after suffering from heart palpitations.