Cape Town: The series-deciding third cricket Test between India and South Africa was tantalisingly poised today with the home team needing to score 156 runs with eight wickets in hand on a deteriorating fifth day track.

Chasing 211 for victory, South Africa were 55 for 2 in their second knock at close on fourth day and would have full three sessions on the final day tomorrow to claim the three-Test series after trailing 1-0 at one stage.

Anil Kumble would be crucial to India's plan of scripting thier first ever series win in South Africa but with not enough runs to defend, even the veteran leg spinner might find it difficult to stop the Proteas from running away with the series.

India had themselves to blame for squandering an advantage of 41 runs in the first innings and managing only 169 in the second innings after being 90 for 2 at one stage.

The chief offenders for India, ironically, were two of their greatest batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who batted listlessly in the afternoon and allowed the South Africans to come back storming in the match.

Tendulkar made 14 from 88 minutes of uninspiring batting in which he faced 66 balls and hit just one four. Dravid, in this stretch, made 11 from 88 minutes and in between them, India's golden chance to win the match went abegging.