CENTURION (South Africa), Nov 24: Gary Kirsten scored 90 as South Africa reached 261 for four at the close of play on the second day of the unofficial Test against India at Centurion Park on Saturday.

The home side led by 29 lead with six wickets in hand in a match overshadowed by the Mike Denness furore.

Kirsten and fellow opener Herschelle Gibbs (59) set the pace, sharing a 135-run first wicket stand which came off 219 balls and included 20 fours.

Kirsten faced 155 balls and hit 13 fours and a six before, in the third over after tea, he attempted to drive a delivery from left arm seamer Ashish Nehra and edged it to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Gibbs, who unusually started more sedately than Kirsten, was the first wicket to fall when he attempted to pull Javagal Srinath.

The ball flew off the top edge of the bat and fine leg Harbhajan Singh made a good running catch. Gibbs’s 59 came off 111 balls and included 10 fours.

Kirsten was joined the in fray by 20-year-old Jacques Rudolph, making his first appearance for South Africa.

Rudolph looked composed and confident against the spin of Harbhajan and Anil Kumble, scoring 21 before being needlessly run out while attempting a quick second run.

South Africa had resumed after lunch on 72 without loss and promptly upped the run rate as they scored 112 in the second session.

Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie added 66 for the fourth wicket in a stand that steadied the innings after a brief wobble.

McKenzie looked well set, but in the final over of the day he edged a leg break from Sachin Tendulkar to slip where VVS Laxman completed a fine catch.

Kallis was the not out batsman with 41 while McKenzie scored 33.

Earlier, India had resumed on 221 for eight, and added 11 runs before being dismissed in the eighth over of the day with Hayward taking four for 74 by having Ashish Nehra caught by Nicky Boje at second slip for four.

The innings ended at the fall of the ninth wicket, because Srinath was unable to continue batting after retiring hurt on Friday when he was struck on the left hand by Hayward.

The match is being played as an unofficial international after the International Cricket Council withdrew its sanction because both teams rejected the appointed match referee, Mike Denness of England.

The boards of both countries vowed to seek to have the match reinstated as an official Test but South African captain Shaun Pollock said after Friday’s play he did not support this move because he said the match lacked the intensity of a full Test.

Scoreboard

INDIA be (Ist Innings 232)

SOUTH AFRICA (Ist Innings)

H.Gibbs c Harbhajan b Srinath 59

G.Kirsten c Dravid b Nehra 90

J.Rudolph run out 21

J.Kallis not out 41

N.McKenzie c Laxman b Tendulkar 33

EXTRAS (b-2 lb-1 nb-12 w-2) 17

TOTAL (for four wkts, 80.4 overs) 261

TO BAT: L.Klusener, M.Boucher, S.Pollock, N.Boje, M.Ntini, M.Hayward.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-135 2-171 3-195 4-261

BOWLING: Srinath 16-3-54-1 (nb-4 w-1) Nehra 17-3-66-1 (nb-5 w-1) Prasad 11-2-42-0 (nb-3) Harbhajan 20-9-45-0 Kumble 15-3-40-0 Tendulkar 1.4-0-11-1—Reuters