PORT ELIZABETH, Nov 16: Herschelle Gibbs’s fifth Test century dominated the first day of the second Test between South Africa and India on Friday.

Gibbs was undefeated on 155 out of South Africa’s total of 237 for five, which they reached after losing the toss and being asked to bat.

The opener batted with characteristic flair and hit 21 fours, most of them cut authoritatively through the off-side, and a six off the 283 balls he faced.

It was Gibbs’s second century of the series after his 107 in the first test in Bloemfontein, which South Africa won by nine wickets.

Boeta Dippenaar scored 29 in a fourth wicket stand of 105 scored with Gibbs, who also shared 70 for the second wicket with Jacques Kallis (24).

Gibbs batted solidly on a day when the rest of South Africa’s top six offered him scant support. Opener Gary Kirsten scored four and Neil McKenzie made 12.

Veteran paceman Javagal Srinath took three for 51 on a green pitch which offered movement off the seam and steepling bounce before lunch.

Srinath struck first in the seventh over of the match when he dismissed Gary Kirsten for four. Kirsten edged an away swinger to third slip, where Virender Sehwag palmed the ball up for second slip Vangipurappu Laxman to take the catch.

Five balls before lunch, Srinath ended the second wicket stand when Kallis dragged a delivery on to his stumps.

Neil McKenzie was out nine overs after lunch when he was deceived by the flight of a delivery from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and was clean bowled for 12 as South Africa slipped to 116 for three.

Gibbs and Dippenaar took the score to 221 before Dippenaar edged a wide delivery from fast bowler Aajit Agarkar to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta.

Five overs later Lance Klusener perished for nine to a simple catch at second slip off Srinath’s bowling.

A green pitch prompted Indian captain Saurav Ganguly to send South Africa in, and several deliveries from Srinath and Agarkar found the edge only to fall short of the slip cordon.

Ganguly came on at first change to bowl seamers, but his two overs cost 21 runs. Leg spinner Anil Kumble bowled tightly in going for just 36 runs from 22 overs, with Harbhajan taking one for 67 off 30 overs.

Batting conditions eased after lunch and the sky brightened as the threatened rain never materialised.