A opening stand of 153 marked India's successful first day in the vital third Test against South Africa at Newlands.
With Virender Sehwag batting down the order, Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik set about vindicationg Rahul Dravid's decision to bat first.
In good batting conditions Jaffer scored his third Test century marking his innings with effective driving and pulling, with special success off the back foot. He was eventually dismissed for 116 when edging the second new ball from Dale Steyn to second slip Jacques Kallis, his 100th Test catch.
Kharthik, playing his first Test in 16 months, opened for the first time in Tests and scored 63. It was his third half-century and he was undone by debut South African left-arm spinner Paul Harris when poking the ball to Hashim Amla at silly point. He didn't bother to appeal but wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and Harris went up and he was given out by umpire Asad Rauf.
He did have a life when dropped, off Shaun Pollock's bowling, at first slip by Graeme Smith. Pollock did strike a vital blow, however, when having Dravid caught behind for 29.
Sachin Tendulkar was looking in good touch in reaching 28 by stumps.
