South African top order blunts Indian attack

R Eswar

Chennai, Mar 26 (PTI) 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 cricket Test here 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 for four.

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.

At stumps, Amla (85) and AB de Villiers (10) were in the middle and they would return tomorrow hoping to further swell the tally.

On a day thoroughly dominated by the batsmen, Anil Kumble was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming two for 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 M Chidambaram Stadium's flat strip.

With India's new ball attack of RP 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.

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