Centurion, Dec 17: Hashim Amla (116*) and Jacques Kallis (102*) shared an unbeaten 200-run stand to put South Africa in a commanding position at the end of Day 2 of the first Test match between India and South Africa. Both batsmen also brought up their respective centuries in the course of their innings.

Batting in tandem, both Amla and Kallis heaped misery on the Indian bowling line-up. They played some beautiful shots on either side of the wicket and when MS Dhoni, in a desperate attempt to do something different, introduced Suresh Raina into the attack, Kallis hit the part-timer for two big sixes on the on-side. The duo’s combined efforts earned the Proteas 230 runs for the third wicket.

India suffered at the hands of some ordinary bowling most of the day. Barring Ishant Sharma’s first spell in the morning, the bowlers didn’t create too much pressure around the South African batsmen. An idea of just how magnanimous the Indians were is given by the fact that Kallis brought up his 38th Test century batting at a strike-rate of over 75 (100 off 130 balls) while Amla notched up his century off 165 deliveries (strike-rate of 60.60). This from two batsmen who aren’t particularly know for their brisk scoring rates. Such was Dhoni’s predicament that he even brought on Sachin Tendulkar to bowl but the ploy remained unrewarded.

Earlier, Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen had given South Africa a solid start by putting up 111 for the first wicket. The openers braved a difficult period at the start of the South African innings, scoring just 24 off the first 11 overs. But once they had the measure of the Indian attack, the runs came at will and the duo added another 87 runs for the first wicket in the next 15.3 overs before Lunch.

India had some respite when Harbhajan, bowling his fifth over, the last before the lunch break, had Smith (62) caught behind by Dhoni off a delivery that bounced considerably. And when Petersen (77) fell shortly after with the score at 166, there was hope of an Indian fight back which, unfortunately, never came.

India finished their first innings at 136, when MS Dhoni was trapped by Morne Morkel off just the third ball of the day.

Brief Score (End of Day 2): India 1st innings 136 in 38.4 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 36, Morne Morkel 5/20, Dale Steyn 3/34); South Africa 1st innings 366 for 2 (Hashim Amla 116*, Jacques Kallis 102*, Harbhajan Singh 2/107)

At Tea: South Africa 1st innings 236/2 in 55.0 overs (Hashim Amla 50*, Jacques Kallis 42*)

At Lunch: South Africa 1st innings 111/1 in 27 overs (Alviro Petersen 45*, Hashim Amla 0*)

After Day 1: India 136 for 9 after 38.1 overs (MS Dhoni 33*, Jaidev Unadkat 1*).