A century by Irfan Pathan helped India to a respectable total of 316-7 at close of play on the first day of their four-day warm-up match against the Rest of South Africa at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom on Thursday.
Pathan was not out on 111 and Zaheer Khan had nine.
India, sent in to bat first, were all at sea in the morning session as Morne Morkel mowed down the top order, taking 4-29 runs before lunch.
Nantie Hayward struck the first blow for the home side off the third ball of the first over when Wasim Jaffer was given out lbw without scoring. Morkel started off with a wide, but then bowled Virender Sehwag for nought with his next delivery.
Sachin Tendulkar, who has been in woeful form recently, was Morkel’s next victim, caught at second slip by Justin Kemp for 10, and VVS Laxman made 23 before he was also caught in the slips by Kemp.
Morkel claimed his fourth victim in the over before lunch when Mahendra Singh Dhoni was caught behind by Morne van Wyk for six.
After lunch, Sourav Ganguly, who last played for India in February, and Pathan did much to consolidate India’s position, putting on 115 runs in the afternoon session as the pitch flattened out and the bowlers toiled in the baking sun.
Both reached their half centuries during the session, with Ganguly’s coming off 84 deliveries and Pathan’s off 81. Ganguly’s innings came to an end after tea when he was caught behind off Friedel de Wet for 83. He had been at the crease for just less than four hours, and faced 141 balls.
Pathan and Harbhajan put on 79 for the seventh wicket before Harbhajan was caught at mid-on by Jacques Rudolph off Alfonso Thomas for 47.
Morkel, who is currently hovering on the fringes of the national team, was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing the day on 4-74 off 19 overs. Paul Adams, a surprise inclusion in the South African Test team for the first Test at the Wanderers next week, went for 54 runs off his nine overs.
There were two late changes to the South African eleven, with Garnett Kruger and Vernon Philander ruled out because of injury. They were replaced by Thomas and De Wet.
India had to make do without their captain, Rahul Dravid, who is still recovering from a finger injury. The vice captain Laxman took over the captain’s duties. — Sapa