First Test, Nagpur, day one (close): India v South Africa 291-2
Dates: 6-10 February Start time: 0400 GMT
Match scorecard
**Jacques Kallis smashed his 34th Test hundred as South Africa rallied after a perilous start on day one of the first Test against India in Nagpur.**Zaheer Khan reduced the tourists to 6-2 in the seventh over when he dismissed Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince.
But Kallis (159 not out) and Hashim Amla (115 not out) guided South Africa to a healthy 291-2 at the close.
The duo put on a record 285-run stand, an all-time South African record partnership record against India.
The impervious Kallis produced a typically chanceless innings, consuming 290 deliveries featuring 13 boundaries and two sixes, while Amla provided more than adequate support, adding 11 boundaries on the way to his eighth Test match hundred.
However, the headlines will belong to Kallis, who moves level with Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara with 34 Test hundreds - only Ricky Ponting (39) and Sachin Tendulkar (45) have more.
Despite South Africa’s precarious start, Kallis tore into India’s bowlers, plundering Ishant Sharma and spinners Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra all over the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground.
He brought up his ton just before tea, reaching the interval on 120, while Amla contributed a more conservative 60.
606: DEBATE
“Given the perilous situation regarding their middle order, the Indians will most probably be playing catch-up all match long”
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However, the stylish Dolphins captain turned on the style after tea as India’s bowlers continued to toil on a fraught opening day.
Already without batsmen Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh because of injuries, the hosts were dealt an early setback on Saturday morning when the experienced VVS Laxman failed to recover in time from a finger problem.
However, Rohit Sharma, the chosen successor to replace Laxman in the middle order, was denied his Test debut when he twisted his ankle playing football in the morning warm-up.
With their middle order batting options rapidly depleting, India’s selectors were forced to turn to reserve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who earned his Test match debut as a specialist batsman.
The enforced change meant India were fielding one of their most inexperienced batting line-ups in years with Tamil Nadu batsman Subramaniam Badrinath also making his Test debut, while state team-mate Murali Vijay has just three previous five-day appearances for India.
However, Zaheer gave captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni the perfect fillip when he removed Ashwell Prince in the fifth over.
The troubled opener gloved a catch to Dhoni attempting to evade a short ball and, two overs later, captain Smith was back in the pavilion when he was undone by a fine inswinger from the left-arm seamer.
However, Kallis and Amla ensured the hosts had nothing else to celebrate for the rest of the day.