CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Jacques Kallis hit his 55th test half-century to be 81 not out yesterday after guiding South Africa through difficult batting conditions to 232-4 at stumps on day one of the third Test against India.

Kallis anchored the innings with his 169-ball effort after the home team was put into bat in the series decider under heavy cloud cover at Newlands.

The hosts slipped to 34-2 before Kallis shared half-century partnerships with Hashim Amla (59) and AB de Villiers (26), and an unbeaten stand of 68 with Ashwell Prince (28 not out) as South Africa added 198 runs with their experienced number four at the crease.

Top-ranked India had troubled South Africa’s batsmen on a seaming, swinging pitch as Zaheer Khan (1-62) and Ishant Sharma (1-39) struck early to remove openers Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth had 2-70 on an opening day when play was interrupted twice by rain.

He picked up the crucial wicket of Amla soon after his 19th Test half-century and then De Villiers, before Kallis steered the home team to a handy position by the time the sun came out in the late afternoon.

Looking for their first Test series win in South Africa, India held the early advantage yesterday in the crunch match between the top two Test teams after Smith and Petersen fell. Amla then top-edged a hook shot off Sreesanth to Cheteshwar Pujara near the midwicket boundary to leave South Africa on 106-3.

Today, Kallis will look to score a 39th Test hundred — which would take him level with Australia’s Ricky Ponting in second place on the all-time list.