Smith, McKenzie give South Africa solid start v India |
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Wednesday March 26, 12:56 PM
CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - Openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie gave South Africa a solid platform in the first session of the opening test against India on Wednesday.
Skipper Smith and McKenzie both struck fifties to spur the tourists to 109 without loss at lunch after they had won the toss and elected to bat.
The pair, fresh from compiling a world test-record 415-run opening partnership in the final test in Bangladesh this month, carried on from where they had left off with an aggressive start which left the home bowlers reeling in sapping humidity.
McKenzie was 54 not out and Smith a further run behind after he swung the last ball before the interval from RP Singh to backward square-leg for four.
Both batsmen attacked pacemen RP Singh and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and continued untroubled after skipper Anil Kumble brought himself on with fellow spinner Harbhajan Singh to find a breakthrough.
The 32-year-old McKenzie batted with authority and struck 11 fours, including two past cover against leg spinner Kumble in one over, before hitting RP Singh past midwicket to reach his 14th test fifty.
Both teams are eyeing victory in the three-test series to mount a challenge to Australia's number one test ranking.
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