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Untitled Document
 South Africa make India toil in Chennai
26th Mar 2008 21:01 IST
Agencies
The South African top order feasted on India's lacklustre bowling attack under a searing sun and on an unresponsive track as the visitors hogged the opening day honours in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today.
After openers Neil McKenzie (94) and Graeme Smith (73) set the tone for the day, South Africa dominated all three sessions to finish Day One at 304/4.
The visitors got off to a perfect start with McKenzie and Smith, barely three weeks after their world record opening stand against Bangladesh, forging yet another century partnership to lay the foundation for a big total.
Though their batting mainstay Jacques Kallis, otherwise a familiar India nemesis, returned before he could make a substantial mark in the match, Hashim Amla (85 not out) took it on his able shoulders to build on the platform.
On a day thoroughly dominated by the batsmen, Anil Kumble was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming 2/61, while his spin twin Harbhajan Singh got as many for 92 runs.
After winning an important toss, Smith predictably decided to take first strike on the Chepauk’s flat strip.
With India's new ball attack of Rudra Pratap Singh and S Sreesanth looking pretty pedestrian, even though the Kerala speedster did beat Smith's tentative bat on a couple of occasions, Smith stood vindicated.
Smith made 73 before being caught by VVS Laxman off Kumble and then Harbhajan had McKenzie caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip to deny him a well-deserved century.
Kumble also snared the wicket of Ashwell Prince by taking a superb one-handed catch diving to his left.
At stumps, Amla (85) and AB de Villiers (10) were in the middle and they would return tomorrow hoping to further swell the tally. |
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