What appeared to be a promising start for the Indians turned into a day of endurance the visitors fought back hard to make the first day of the first Test between India and South Africa an intriguing one at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
jacques kallis hashim amla
Indians were right on top after Zaheer Khan picked up his second scalp of the day, that of the South African captain, Graeme Smith, bowled early into his innings. It was the second critical setback for the visitors looking to regain their no. 1 Test team position and perhaps the most significant wicket, after Ashwell Prince was sent on his way for naught, even though there seemed an element of doubt about the dismissal.
From six runs for the loss of two wickets in only the seventh over, it was a grind for Jacques Kallis and more so, for the no.3 batsman, Hashim Amla, who had to persevere right through the day.
Kallis was clearly the leader of the duo as he set about steadily stealing runs from under the tight leash that the Indians bowlers, especially Zaheer, held in the morning. Even as this was not Amla's best innings, his scratching around ensured that South Africa would not be in greater trouble as they went into lunch at two down for ninety.
The session before tea saw Jacques Kallis command greater authority over the proceedings even as the Indian spinners, especially Harbhajan Singh, failed to extract any stranglehold or additional pressure than the South Africans found themselves in. Kallis picked up yet another century to his rather large career record as Amla started to finally find his feet.
Not satiated with a century, Kallis continued to prove a thorn in the flesh for the Indians who may have felt that they had picked up their last wicket ages go. Amla's perseverance, and a little bit of luck, eventually paid off as he ended the day on 113 from 431 balls while Kallis was brimming with 159 from ten balls fewer.
A day that started as India's day has ended up looking rather rich and rewarding for South Africa with the score at stumps on 291 for two.
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