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Proteas' fine first day

AFP, Chennai
South Africa revelled in good batting conditions to pile up 304-4 on the opening day of the first Test against India here on Wednesday.
Neil McKenzie (94), skipper Graeme Smith (73) and Hashim Amla (85 not out) laid the foundations for a big total as the Indian bowlers toiled in oppressive weather and on an unresponsive wicket at the Chidambaram Stadium.
McKenzie and Smith provided the momentum with an opening stand of 132 in their first outing since compiling a world record partnership of 415 against Bangladesh in Chittagong earlier this month.
The duo batted through the morning session to put on 109 by lunch after Smith won the toss and took first strike on a placid wicket.
Smith had made 73 when he lost his wicket midway through the
post-lunch session, on-driving Anil Kumble to short mid-wicket where Venkatsai Laxman moved to his right to take a smart catch.
Smith fell soon after he had slammed three boundaries in one over from seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, but McKenzie and Amla put on 64 for the second wicket to further frustrate the Indians.
McKenzie, who was recalled to the South African side in January after three years in the wilderness, missed a fourth Test century when he edged off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to Rahul Dravid in the slips just before tea.
Harbhajan struck again on the resumption, having Jacques Kallis caught at forward short-leg by Wasim Jaffer for 13 to leave South Africa 244-3.
Amla and Ashwell Prince carried the total to 291 when 37-year-old Kumble, the Indian captain, dived to his left to pick up a low return catch off Prince.
The umpires agreed to have two
drinks breaks every session, instead of the mandatory’ one, as on-field temperatures touched 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) with 75 percent humidity.
"It is disappointing to miss a Test century but if anyone had told me in the morning that I will make 94,1 would have taken it happily, said McKenzie.
"Bangladesh was a watershed for me and I am really enjoying my return to Test cricket. In the subcontinent it is best to open the innings, when the ball is hard and comes off the bat.
"We have a lot of batting left and hope to add another 250 runs. ’
Harbhajan was confident India can restrict South Africa on the second day.
"It is a matter of getting a few wickets tomorrow." the off-spinner said. "The target is not to give them more than 80 runs.
"If only we had won the toss and batted first. The wicket is tough for the bowlers as is the weather. But we are determined to win this Test match."
Smith and McKenzie, who both hit double centuries during their record stand in Chittagong, appeared in prime form as they flayed the Indian seam attack-of Rudra Pratap Singh and Srcesanth in the morning session.
Runs flowed freely from their blades as McKenzie opened his account by flicking Rudra Pratap to the square-leg fence, and took two more boundaries off the same bowler.
Smith cut Sreesanth to point and then slashed him ever the slips before the seamer beat the South African captain twice outside the off-stump.
Kumble, who came on with his leg-spin in the 11th over, was welcomed by McKenzie with two fours in one over.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard at stumps on the opening day of the first Test between India and South Africa at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday:
SOUTH AF RICA: First innings
Smith c Laxman b Kumble 73 McKenzie c Dravidb Harbhajan 94 Amlanotout 85 Kallis c Jaffer b Harbhajan 13 Prince c and b Kumble 23 De Villiers not out 10 Extras: (b-l,lb-4,w-l) 6 Total: (For four wkts in 90 o\ ers) 304 To bat: Boucher, Morkel, Harris.
Steyn. Ntini
Fall of wickets: 1-132,2-196.3-244, I 291.
Bowler OMR W
RPSingh 14 1 68 0
FROM PAGE 17
Srecsanth 15 3 60 0
Kumble 29 8 61 2
Harbhajan 26 2 92 2
Schwag 6 1 18 0
INDIA: Schwag, Jaffer, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman, Dhoni, Kumble, Harbhajan, RP Singh, Srecsanth.
Toss: South Africa
Umpires: Asad Rauf(PAK) and Tony Hill (NZL)
TV umpire: Amiesh Sahcba (IND) Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)