South Africa 5-299 (Jacques Kallis 78, AB de Villiers 74, Alviro Petersen 62, Ravindra Jadeja 4-87) trails India 334 (Murali Vijay 97, Ajinkya Rahane 51*, Dale Steyn 6-100) by 35 runs with five wickets in hand.

Jacques Kallis was playing a memorable innings in his last Test by providing a solid stand of 127 runs with AB de Villiers who also scored fifty plus runs.

The visitors scored 334 runs in their first innings and the Proteas managed 299 for the loss of five wickets in 104.5 overs when play was stopped due to rain.

The third day’s play finished on Saturday, December 28, 2013, at Kingsmead, Durban.

Earlier, the hosts started the day at 82 without any loss in 20 overs whereas Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith were batting at 46 and 35 runs. The first completed his seventh Test fifty in the 22^nd over and Smith became the first victim at 103 for 47. Hashim Amla was clean bowled by Mohammed Shami for just three runs as the score touched 113 and Petersen followed him for 62.

Jacques Kallis along with AB de Villiers got the responsibility of strengthening the position of their team. They kept the score board moving by sending the cherry out of the fence at regular intervals. The second hundred of the innings was posted on board in the 62^nd over and de Villiers also attained his 34^th Test half century during the same over. He was finally dismissed for 74 after 240 runs appeared on the screen and was replaced by Jean-Paul Duminy.

Jacques Kallis achieved his 59^th Test fifty with a four and continued consolidating the innings with Duminy who was gone after scoring 28 runs. The day’s play concluded due rain interruption after the fifth ball of the 105^th over was bowled. Kallis was unbeaten at 78 and Dale Steyn has yet to open his account as the Proteas scored 299 with five wickets still intact.

Ravindra Jadeja was the most successful bowler with four and Mahammed Shami held one.

South Africa has reached the position of safety in the Test and will move towards solidarity whereas India will anticipate grabbing the remaining five wickets at the earliest.