DURBAN, Nov 22: Jacques Kallis struck a flawless century as South Africa made an imposing 248-8 in the second one-day international against India at Kingsmead here on Wednesday.

Kallis made 119 not out after South Africa won the toss and batted on a well-grassed pitch in the day-night match.

The Indian bowlers and fielders, marshaled by captain Rahul Dravid, kept the South African batsmen in check for much of the innings despite Kallis' fine innings.

The home side were wobbling at 209 for seven with 26 balls left but Kallis and tailender Andre Nel put on 39 for the eighth wicket before Nel was run out for 22 off the last ball of the innings.

It was Kallis' 14th one-day international century but his first in 25 matches against India - the only major cricket nation missing from his list of hundreds.

He had been dismissed three times in the 90s against India.

Indian pace bowlers Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar each took two wickets.

It was the first action in the five-match series after the first international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was rained out Sunday.

Kallis, batting at number three, faced the ninth ball of the innings after captain Graeme Smith was leg before to Khan for one. He batted solidly from the start of his innings and made his runs off 160 balls with 15 fours.

South Africa were in some trouble at 63 for three but AB de Villiers (41) helped Kallis put on 87 for the fourth wicket.

Mark Boucher then helped Kallis put on 46 off 46 balls. The innings lost momentum as Boucher, Justin Kemp and Shaun Pollock were out in quick succession before Nel, with a previous highest score of 12, played a surprisingly effective hand.

South Africa opted for an all-seam bowling attack while India picked a side with seven batsmen and only four specialist bowlers, leaving out all-rounder Irfan Pathan and injured Virender Sehwag.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA

G.C. Smith lbw b Khan 1

L.L. Bosman lbw b Khan 22

J.N Kallis not out 119

H.H Gibbs c Dhoni b Patel 2

A.B de Villiers st Dhoni b Mongia 41

M.V Boucher c Khan b Patel 23

J.M Kemp c Dhoni b Agarkar 8

S.M Pollock c Tendulkar b Agarkar 0

A. Nel run out 22

EXTRAS: (LB-1, W-9) 10

TOTAL: (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 248

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3, 2-47, 3-63, 4-150, 5-196, 6-209, 7-209, 8-248

DNB: C.K Langeveldt, M. Ntini

BOWLING: Munaf 10-2-39-2, Zaheer 8-0-53-2(w-3), Agarkar 9-1-47-2, Tendulkar 9-1-33-0, Harbhajan 10-0-59-0(w-1), Mongia 4-0-16-1

INDIA: S.R. Tendulkar, W Jaffer, R Dravid, M Kaif, D Mongia, S.K. Raina, M.S. Dhoni, M.M. Patel, Harbhajan Singh, A.B. Agarkar, Z Khan.—AFP