SOUTH Africa made a stuttering start to their tour of India after Abhishek Nayar’s century helped the BCCI President’s XI pile on the runs. The home side reached 318 all out, before the tourists ended day one of the two-day game in Nagpur on 44 without loss.

There was some cause for satisfaction for Graeme Smith’s men, especially after their start which saw them reduce the President’s XI to 114 for six.

Abhinav Mukund (eight), Parthiv Patel (eight), Ajinkya Rahane (12), Rohit Sharma (20), Manish Pandey (43) and Cheteshwar Pujara (17) were all back in the pavilion at that stage, thanks largely to two wickets apiece from Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell.

But Nayar, who was out for exactly 100, with his 140-ball knock including 16 boundaries, and Shikhar Dhawan (70) put on 181 for the seventh wicket to lift their side.

The partnership was eventually broken when Dhawan was run-out by Johan Botha with the score on 295, and the dismissal sparked a collapse, with Nayar the last man out when he was caught by Jacques Kallis off Morkel.

Seamer Morkel, one of 10 bowlers to be utilised by Smith at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, ended with the best figures of three for 24 in 7.4 overs, while Parnell claimed three for 66 in 13.

Dale Steyn (one for 17) was also tidy, while the other wickets went to Botha (one for 44) and Kallis (one for one).

South Africa’s response was a brisk one and they will resume the second and final day with Smith on 30 and Ashwell Prince on 13. Eurosport)