Kumble celebrates the wicket of Kirsten

With fellow spinner Harbhajan Singh nursing a groin injury, Anil Kumble was forced to toil through 29.5 overs, taking the scalps of McKenzie and Kirsten.

Sachin Tendulkar filled in with seven overs of leg-spin, and it was surprising that he was not used more.

Gibbs and Kirsten took particular pleasure in milking the bowling of left-arm duo Ashih Nehra and Zaheer Khan.

Both were just returning from injury, neither had bowled on tour before, and they were punished heavily.

Nehra allowed 77 runs, including 11 no balls, from his 12 overs and Khan 76 from his 16.

Breakthrough

Gibbs reached his first ton on home soil in style, swatting Khan for six over midwicket.

His century came from just 140 balls, with 15 fours, and South Africa were on the verge of a 200-run opening stand.

But, having made 73 from 132 balls, Kirsten played on to a delivery from Kumble which kept low.

Kirsten fell to a top-spinner from Kumble

Javagal Srinath was brought back into the attack to take advantage and was rewarded as Gibbs stretched outside off-stump to deal a simple catch to Zaheer at mid-off.

McKenzie made his half century from 90 deliveries, with six fours.

The home side's 300 came up in a low-key fashion, debuting wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta failing to field Kumble's delivery.

The ball went through to hit a fielding helmet placed on the ground behind the keeper and five byes were awarded.

But McKenzie had reached 68 when he failed to pick a googly from Kumble to be out leg before without offering a shot.

Kallis was left not out at the close, a run short of his 19th Test half century.

Wrapped-up tail

Earlier, South African captain Shaun Pollock finished with four wickets as India were bowled out for 379.

The tourists began the day on 372 for seven in their first innings, looking to build on centuries by Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Shewag.

Shaun Pollock took two wickets on the second morning

But some injudicious shots from their tailenders saw just seven runs added in five overs and one ball.

Pollock had Dasgupta and Khan caught by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher in the 95th over of the innings.

Dasgupta made 34 before getting a nick outside off-stump.

Javagal Srinath then lobbed Nantie Hayward to Gibbs at gully with the first ball of the next over.

Hayward finished with three for 70 in his first Test match for more than a year.

Pollock's four came at a cost of 91.

Indian team manager MK Barghava revealed at lunch-time that first choice wicket-keeper Samir Dighe will see a specialist in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Dighe has so far failed to respond to treatment on the muscle strain in his back.