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PHOTOS: Bad light halts India's charge in Durban on Day 1
Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara struck unbeaten half-centuries to guide India to a strong 181 for one before bad light stopped play early on Day 1 of the second Test in Durban, on Thursday.
Vijay was unbeaten on a fluent 91, hitting as many as 17 fours in his 201-ball knock, while Pujara continued his good form to score a solid 58 off 117 balls, to help India make a good start after they had elected to bat.
Kallis to retire after Durban Test
Earlier, in the morning session, Jacques Kallis, playing in his last Test, led the hosts on to the field as the crowd cheered for the all-rounder who acknowledged them with raised hands and a bow with his hat.
Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay were off the block quickly with a few boundaries in the early overs with the pitch looking bare and not offering assistance to the South African pacers.
In the first hour of play, 41 runs came in 13 overs with India looking set for a big total in the first innings.
Morkel removes Dhawan early
Dhawan was once again guilty of throwing his wicket away after getting off a start. He stroked 29 from 49 balls before he played a loose shot against Morkel and was caught at third slip by Robin Peterson.
India made one change to their team bringing in all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in place of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Vijay, Pujara hit half-centuries
The two batsmen made good use of the conditions, playing watchfully yet at the same time scoring at a decent pace.
India crossed the 100-run mark in the 30th over. The last 10 overs bowled by the Proteas in the post-lunch session had cost 48 runs without producing a wicket.
It was the highlight of the day as run-scoring became easier once the batsmen had got themselves in, something Vijay did with aplomb in the first session as Pujara just carried on his form from the first Test, where he scored 153 in the second innings.
In the 34th over, Vijay brought up a well-deserved half-century after grinding his way at Johannesburg without scoring too many runs. It was his fourth fifty in 20 Tests, coming off 102 balls, with 11 fours. Notably, he scored at a much better clip than the previous match, outlining the nature of the pitch.
Pujara, on the other hand, quietly accumulated his runs, as India's 150-run mark came up three overs later.
Just before tea, in the 52nd over, Pujara brought up his fourth fifty of career in just 17 Tests. He used up 97 balls for it, hitting seven fours.