Gibbs played another impressive knock

All the same, Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs featured in an opening stand of 135 for the home side, studded with a series of rasping cover drives and cuts.

Beginning the second session on 72 without loss, the pair brought up the century from 108 balls and then went on to record half centuries.

Nehra and Venkatesh Prasad were picked off for boundaries - generally through the off-side - by the South African pair in such fine form of late.

Top edge

Eventually, Gibbs was deceived by a shortish ball from Srinath, which he top-edged to Harbhajan Singh at fine leg.

With Gibbs out for 59, a nervy Jacques Rudolph came to the crease.

Initially troubled by Harbhajan, he was just getting into the swing of things, when he set off for a suicide second run and was run out at the bowler's end.

Kirsten departed 10 short of a century, when he edged the improving Nehra to Rahul Dravid at slip.

Then McKenzie and Jacques Kallis ensured South Africa moved into the lead in a dour partnership.

After a stay of one hour and 40 minutes, McKenzie finally edged a perfect Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman completed a fine diving catch at first slip.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher (wkt), Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Nantie Hayward.

India: Rahul Dravid (capt), Shiv Sunder Das, Connor Williams, Sachin Tendulkar, Deep Dasgupta (wkt), VVS Laxman, Venkatesh Prasad, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra.

South Africa won toss and decided to field
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen and David Orchard (both SA)

Match Referee: Denis Lindsay (SA)