Nagpur, February 06: Zaheer Khan struck twice for injury-hit India before Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla put up an unbeaten 84-run stand to steer South Africa to 90 for two at lunch on day one of the first cricket Test here today.
Paceman Khan sent back both the openers captain Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince cheaply after the Proteas opted to take first strike at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha.
The visitors recovered through Kallis’ crafty 55, his 53rd Test fifty, and Amla’s patient 57-ball 24.
Kallis hit six fours and a six off Harbhajan Singh in his sensible 81-ball knock.
Already without Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, India suffered more jolt this morning when VVS Laxman failed to recover from a hand injury and his cover Rohit Sharma twisted his ankle in bizarre fashion during the pre-game warm-up.
Reserve stumper Wriddhiman Saha and talented Subramaniam Badrinath were then handed Test caps.
–PTI