Hashim Amla stroked his fourth century to power South Africa to 404-5 at lunch on the second day of the first Test against India on Thursday.
The 24-year-old lashed three fours in a row against paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth to reach triple figures and was unbeaten on 124 at the interval as the tourists built on a good start. Mark Boucher was 26 not out.
AB de Villiers provided India with their only success of the session when he was out for 44 to Sreesanth.
South Africa, 304-4 overnight after winning the toss and electing to bat, added 100 runs in the session as they looked on course for a huge total, frustrating the home bowlers in sapping humidity.
Amla, 85 not out overnight, took his time to settle down in the morning and had struck 15 fours in his nearly six-hour knock.
At the other end, De Villiers forced spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan to back off and then waded into the listless RP Singh after the second new ball was taken in the fourth over of the day.
Sreesanth had him caught behind in an eventful over after the umpire was seen talking to the bowler more than once.
Sreesanth first bowled with AB de Villiers far from being ready and then charged up to the batsman on his follow through after the next delivery and said something to him.
Although De Villiers hit the next ball for four he lost concentration and edged a drive off the last ball of the over and wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni took a diving catch to his right.
The bowler was twice fined for poor behaviour in 2007 and cautioned during an ill-tempered home one-day series against Australia.
Neil McKenzie (94) and skipper Graeme Smith had given South Africa a superb start on Wednesday by adding 132 runs for the first wicket.
The tourists are bidding for their third successive series win in the subcontinent after defeating Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The second and third Tests in the series will be played in Ahmedabad and Kanpur. — Reuters