The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Chennai

Openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer

gave India a sound start Thursday in reply to South Africa's imposing first innings total in the opening test.

Sehwag (52 not out) and Jaffer (25 not out) helped India reach 82-0 at stumps on day two after South Africa rode on Hashim Amla's composed century to post 540, its highest test total in India.

South Africa's previous highest total on India's dusty, low-bounce pitches was 510-9 during the drawn Kanpur test match in 2004.

Amla (159) led South Africa to a strong position as the tourists frustrated the Indian attack on a placid track by adding 236 brisk runs to the overnight score of 304-4.

Amla, 85 at Wednesday's close, took time to get his eye in before stroking three boundaries in one over from paceman Shantakumaran Sreesanth to reach his fourth hundred in 23 tests, and his first against India.

Sreesanth did trouble Amla's overnight partner A.B. de Villiers (44), inducing an edge to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, ending the 66-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Mark Boucher survived a confident lbw appeal by Sreesanth when on 10, and put on 99 runs for the sixth wicket with the dominant Amla, whose chanceless knock ended with a run out.

Non-striker Amla was out when Boucher's drive off Anil Kumble was fielded by Sreesanth at short-covers, and relayed to the bowler by wicketkeeper Dhoni.

Amla struck 20 boundaries from 262 deliveries during his authoritative knock that lasted nearly seven hours.

Boucher went on to score 70 as he marshaled support from the lower order batsmen to boost the scoring, adding 54 runs for the seventh wicket with Morne Morkel, who scored 35.

Boucher's three-hour knock contained 9 boundaries from 146 balls before he was caught behind off part-time spinner Sehwag (1-37).

Thwarted by the South African batsmen in the first two sessions Thursday, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh ran through the tail to return figures of 5-164.

Singh snared Morkel, Paul Harris (5) and Dale Steyn (15) as South Africa's last three wickets. Singh had dismissed opener Neil McKenzie and Jacques Kallis on day one.

Playing in his 64th test, this was the 21st occasion that Singh had snared five wickets in an innings.