NAGPUR, Feb 6 (IANS): South Africa were 291 for two at stumps on the first day of their first cricket Test against India here Saturday. Jacques Kallis (159) and Hashim Amla (115) were at the crease.
Zaheer Khan had claimed the wickets of Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince with six runs on the board before Kallis and Amla put on an unbeaten 285 runs.
Earlier, Kallis scored his 34th Test century and steered South Africa to a strong position.
Kallis and Hashim Amla took South Africa to safety after the visitors lost their openers with just six runs on board in the morning session.
Kallis' knock was a fine blend of caution and aggression while Amla concentrated on occupying the crease.
South Africa consolidated after lunch with Kallis and Amla not giving any opportunity to the Indian bowlers.
Kallis brought up his century in 166 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
Amla played the the role of second fiddle, consuming 147 balls for his 60 with five fours.
Earlier in the morning session, Zaheer Khan gave India a rousing start, removing Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince in a ferocious opening spell.
Zaheer livened up the proceedings with a lethal spell (6-4-2-2). The left-arm seamer extracted pace, bounce and movement from the first day's wicket.
He got his reward in the fifth over of the day when Ashwell Price, surprised by a well-directed bouncer, played unsteadily and gave a catch behind the stumps. Though Prince was a touch unlucky as cameras later revealed that the ball reared up after brushing his arm guard.
Zaheer enjoys a good success rate against Smith and dismissed the in-form batsman with an excellent delivery that cut back a shade and crashed into the left-hander's stumps.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa: first innings: Graeme Smith b Khan 6, Ashwell Prince c Dhoni b Khan 0, Hashim Amla batting 115, Jacques Kallis batting 159; Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-5): 11; Total (for two wickets in 91 overs): 291; Fall of wickets 1-5 (Prince), 2-6 (Smith; Bowling: Zaheer: 20-5-67-2; Ishant: 17-2-44-0; Harbhajan: 21-0-81-0; Amit Mishra: 26-2-71-0; Sehwag: 7-1-22-0.
