New Delhi: South Africa were off to a shaky start in their first innings after bowling out India for 334 on the second day of the fourth and final Test in New Delhi Friday.
At tea, the Proteas were 38-1 with opener Temba Bavuma (20) and skipper Hashim Amla (one) at the crease.
The visitors, who have already lost the series, trail by 296 runs with nine wickets in hand.
Paceman Umesh Yadav gave India the key breakthrough by having opener Dean Elgar caught behind for 17 in the 15th over.
Amla, who has had a quiet series, looked tentative during his stay at the crease so far, scoring just one run from 15 deliveries.
India were bowled out for 334 five overs into the post-lunch session with recalled paceman Kyle Abbott taking two wickets in three balls to send back Ravichandran Ashwin (56) and Ishant Sharma (zero).
It was the second career five-wicket haul for Abbott, who had picked three wickets on the opening day.
Abbot, playing his fifth Test, finished as the most successful bowler with figures of 5-40 off 24.5 overs.
After resuming at 231-7, India added 103 runs to their total while losing three wickets, including that of Ajinkya Rahane, who scored the first century of the series with a well-crafted 127.
Rahane, 27, reached his fifth Test century and his first on home soil with a classic straight drive off Abbott.
The stylish right-hander, on 89 overnight, raised his arms in celebration before waving his bat towards cheering fans at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
No batsman had scored a century in an otherwise low-scoring series which India have sealed already after winning the first and third Tests.
Rahane thrived on the Kotla track, which seemed to have evened out after offering inconsistent bounce and turn to bowlers on the opening day.
His fine innings came to an end when he handed a straightforward catch to AB de Villiers in the covers off leg-spinner Imran Tahir.
His 127 runs came off 215 balls and was studded with 11 fours and four sixes.
Rahane exhibited crackling form in the first session, lofting off-spinner Dane Piedt for two sixes in three balls, including one that sailed over the long-off fence.
Rahane, who shared 98 runs with Ashwin, helped India steady the boat after they were reeling at 139-6 at one stage.
Ashwin, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 24, showed his skill with the bat as well, reaching his sixth Test half-century with a six off Tahir.
The prodigal Tahir, who was used for just seven overs on Thursday, gave away 66 runs from 16 overs while taking the prized scalp of Rahane.
AFP
