Zaheer Khan struck two quick blows to give India an early advantage over South Africa on the opening day of the first Test on Saturday.
The left-arm medium-pacer dismissed openers Ashwell Prince for nought and skipper Graeme Smith for six in successive overs after the tourists chose to bat first on a flat VCA Stadium pitch.
Jacques Kallis struck 55 and shared in an unbeaten third wicket stand of 84 with Hashim Amla (24) to guide the tourists to 90 for two at lunch.
Zaheer, who took 15 wickets in the the 2-0 Test rout of Bangladesh last month, had left-hander Prince caught behind with a wicked bouncer, although television replays suggested the ball went off Prince’s arm guard and not the gloves.
India’s spearhead bowled Smith through the bat-pad gap with a beauty, squaring up the left-hander with a delivery that came in sharply, in a stunning six-over opening spell with four maidens while conceding just two runs.
Bulwark Kallis batted with control for his 53rd Test 50 as India quickly introduced spin to a pitch that is expected to aid turn.
Kallis, who struck two centuries in the drawn Test series against England last month, hit six fours and a six, using his feet beautifully against spin pair Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra.
Top-ranked India, already without experienced batsmen Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, suffered another blow when Rohit Sharma, called up as cover for Vangipurappu Laxman, suffered an ankle injury in the warm-up.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was handed an unexpected debut by India in the absence of both Laxman and Sharma and joins another debutant batsman, Subramaniam Badrinath, in an inexperienced middle order.
South Africa can reclaim the top Test ranking from India if they win the series and have included Paul Harris as lone specialist spinner in a pace-oriented attack. – Reuters