http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in Command at Centurion TEA Update Day 2
The battle for the top spot in test ranking has gotten off to a one-sided start as the South Africans take control of the first test against the top ranked test team as per the ICC rankings http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
Resuming their abysmal first innings total of 136/9 the Indians caved in without any addition to their overnight total.
Skipper Mahindra Singh Dhoni got lbw by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morne-Morkel-c77722 for 33 runs scored off 50 balls. Dhoni's wicket was the fifth in the innings for the right armed bowler Morkel who bowled gave a sustained performance on day one to send the Indians packing on an action
filled, yet curtailed first day of the series.
Not letting the Indians establish a high total, the South Africans made the most of their impressive work by going past the Indian total with ease losing only one wicket in the process as they grounded the high flying Indians in no uncertain terms.
After the damage inflicted by Morkel and Steyn it was the opening duo of South African captain Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen who compounded the worries of the tourists with an imposing opening stand of 111 runs.
Smith, who recovered just in time from a hand injury, took to the field and scored an impressive 62 off only 87 balls striking 11 fours in the process to lead the charge.
He was dismissed by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623 taking a fine tumbling catch at short-leg.
At this stage the experienced and classy duo of Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla aggravated the wounds of the hapless Indians, with the two pouncing on every loose ball.
Hashim Amla reached his 19th test half century on the eve of the tea break. He has hit 3 fours and 1 six in the innings thus far. Whereas on the other end, Kallis scored 42 runs off 53 balls. His innings has so far included 5 fours and 2 sixes
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