Proteas bloom in Nagpur

Hashim Amla: 253 not out

First Test Match
Nagpur
South Africa 558-6 dec (H M Amla 253 no, J H Kallis 173, A B de Villiers 53) v India 25-0

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A superb unbeaten double century from Hashim Amla put South Africa in charge after the second day of the first Test in Nagpur.

Amla made a masterful 253 not out, sharing big partnerships with Jacques Kallis (173), AB de Villiers (53) and Mark Boucher (39), as the tourists showed plenty of appetite for piling on the runs against a toiling Indian attack.

India's slow bowlers did find some success, with Harbhajan Singh claiming two victims and part-time spinner Virender Sehwag snaring De Villiers, before South Africa skipper Graeme Smith decided to declare the innings on 558 for six late in the day.

But the Proteas' pacemen could not force an opening as India's openers Gautam Gambhir (12 not out) and Virender Sehwag (nine not out) guided India to 25 without loss at the close.

Kallis and Amla had ensured no early breakthroughs for the home side in the morning, although Kallis appeared subdued.

The all-rounder's first runs came in the ninth over in the morning when he lashed Ishant for a boundary, but he added only 14 runs to his overnight total of 159 in close to 90 minutes at the crease before departing.

Kallis inside-edged Harbhajan onto his pads, the ball popping up to Murali Vijay at short leg, ending a record third-wicket stand of 340.

Rode his luck

Amla too South Africa past 300 with an edged boundary through gully and hammered Zaheer Khan for consecutive boundaries - and rode his luck through the day.

He survived two chances on 149, when Murali put down a sitter at short leg and again when wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni grassed a difficult opportunity off the next ball.

De Villiers showed intent and purpose as he followed Kallis in forging a partnership with Amla, who reached his double century with a superbly driven boundary off Sehwag.

De Villiers used his feet nicely against the spinners and went to his 21st Test half-century with a single off Harbhajan.

Harbhajan and leg-spinner Amit Mishra had time and again gone past the outside edge of both batsmen, but it was Sehwag who found success in the afternoon session.

De Villiers advanced down the track, but only managed an outside edge which was taken by Subramaniam Badrinath.

Glimmer

Harbhajan then gave the home side a glimmer of hope when he trapped Jean-Paul Duminy (nine) in front, the left-hand batsman attempting a sweep but missing.

However, Boucher, who appeared just before the tea interval, then added 78 for the sixth wicket with Amla, the duo edging the score closer to the 600-run mark.

Zaheer claimed his third victim when he dismissed Boucher, attempting a swipe over the top, the wicketkeeper lofting a catch which Mishra neatly took running back from cover.

Although Dale Steyn joined Amla in the middle, the declaration was made before he could get off the mark.

It left India's openers to negotiate a tricky period of four overs before stumps, but Sehwag and Gambhir made a confident start to their innings.