Hall's century was his first in Tests

Opener Andrew Hall scored his maiden Test century as South Africa reached 459-7 at stumps on day two of the first Test against India in Kanpur.

Hall was finally bowled around his legs by Anil Kumble for 163 after a 144-run partnership with debutant all-rounder Zander de Bruyn, who hit 83.

Kumble had figures of 5-116 while the other spinners Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik really struggled.

Hall batted just short of 10 hours and faced 454 balls in total.

It was the highest score by a South African on Indian soil, eclipsing the 153 not out made by Daryl Cullinan at Calcutta in 1996-97.

His stand with de Bruyn was a record sixth-wicket partnership for South Africa against India, bettering the 112 runs Brian McMillan and Shaun Pollock scored together at Johannesburg in 1996-97.

And Hall also surpassed his previous best effort in first-class cricket, 153 for Easterns versus North West in 2001-02.

South Africa began the second day on 230-4 and India had an early success as Boeta Dippenaar (48) edged a Sourav Ganguly leg-cutter to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik.

Quotes: Day two reaction

The hosts had to wait until the stroke of tea for their next success as Hall and de Bruyn blunted the opposition with gutsy efforts of self-denial.

Hall, 118 not out at lunch, finally played with more freedom in the afternoon with fluent drives through cover interspersed with some firm sweep shots.

India wilted in the field and it was a surprise when a wicket finally came as Hall lost his concentration for a moment.

These South African batsmen are playing really dull cricket - the whole match has deteriorated into a very boring game of attrition From MI Have your say on TMS

Shaun Pollock came in and began with three crisp boundaries, but settled into accumulative mode once de Bruyn, who had hit three sixes, was caught by Rahul Dravid at slip off Harbhajan.

At the close, Pollock was 31 not out with the other debutant Thami Tsolekile five.

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Murali Kartik, Zaheer Khan.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Zander de Bruyn, Thami Tsolekile (wicket-keeper), Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini,Andrew Hall, Robin Peterson, Martin van Jaarsveld.