Indian batsmen Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara shared an unbeaten century partnership before bad light stopped play on the first day of the second and final cricket test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
India were 181 for one when play was brought to a premature end eight overs after tea.
Vijay (91 not out) and Pujara (58 not out) put on 140 for the second wicket as South Africa’s bowlers toiled on a slow pitch which fast bowler Morne Morkel described as being similar to surfaces found in the Indian sub-continent.
“We as bowlers were a little surprised at the pace of the wicket,” said Morkel.
“It was a little on the slow side. But as a bowling unit it is important for us to move away from those sort of things. The conditions are what they are and we need to deal with them. It was hard work.”
Morkel said the ball quickly lost its shine on a dry surface, enabling the bowlers to gain reverse swing before the early close.