South Africa's Hashim Amla drives during the first day of the first Test against India in Chennai yesterday. Amla was undefeated on 85 at stumps - AP

CHENNAI, India (AP):

SOUTH AFRICA opener Neil McKenzie fell six runs short of posting successive Test centuries and Hashim Amla compiled an unbeaten 85 yesterday as the tourists dominated the opening day of the first Test against India.

Amla's sedate knock followed an imposing opening stand of 132 between McKenzie (94) and skipper Graeme Smith (73) that powered South Africa to 304 for four at stumps, on a placid pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers.

Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa overcame the challenge of Indian spin, along with intense heat and humidity. The temperature was touching 32 degrees Celsius (90 F) and the relative humidity was measured at 74 per cent.

Amla struck 10 boundaries off 159 deliveries, and was closing in on a fourth century from 23 Tests.

Amla witnessed the departure of seasoned batsmen Jacques Kallis (13) and vice captain Ashwell Prince (23) in the day's final session, with A.B. de Villiers (10) the other not out batsman at the close.

Smith and McKenzie continued the run-amassing form of their previous Test in Bangladesh, where they put on a world record 415 for the opening wicket that eclipsed a five-decade old record set by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad.

McKenzie, who posted 226 during the record-shattering partnership, struck 18 boundaries off 156 deliveries yesterday to sustain his resounding comeback after a four-year absence from South Africa's national squad.

"The pitch had a lot more bounce that one expected from a subcontinental track, and I really enjoyed myself today," said McKenzie.

Subcontinental tracks

"Opening was the only slot available for me on this trip to the subcontinent, but then an opener's position is the ideal one for subcontinental tracks as the ball comes on quite well," said McKenzie, asserting that the Test matches in Bangladesh were "a watershed for me."

The opening stand was broken by legspinner Anil Kumble when Smith played an uppish on-drive to V.V.S. Laxman at short mid-on. Smith's 157-ball knock featured 13 boundaries.

McKenzie was looking good for his fourth century in 45 Tests when he nicked offspinner Harbhajan Singh into the hands of lone slip Rahul Dravid.

McKenzie said missing a Test century was "a big disappointment, but I would have gladly taken 90 if someone had mentioned it in the morning."