India pegged back South Africa on the first day of the second and final test match at Eden Garden in Kolkata. The visitors lost seven wickets for 32 runs in the evening session as hosts fought back strongly to turned the thing around.

Earlier in the day South Africa after opting bat first off to a shaky start when lost captain Graeme Smith in the day’s third over but with centuries from the debutant Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla gave Proteas a solid platform for a big one.

Petersen knocked 100 and Amla scored 114 to lift the Proteas to 2-229, before India rattled the line-up and reduced them at 266-9 before the days stumped. But it was Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh who denied Proteas’ fluent proceedings to pushed them on back foot.
Petersen – who was handed a Test cap at the last minute after wicket-keeper Mark Boucher was ruled out with back spasms, took the golden chance with both hand to smack 16 boundaries in his superb hundred. While Amla – who was unbeaten 253 in the first Test, departed after hitting 14 boundaries and a six to his 114 off 166 balls before felling to Zaheer.

Harbhajan trapped Ashwell Prince and JP Duminy lbw off successive deliveries, but tail-ender Dale Steyn denied off-spinner’ hat-trick. AB de Villiers (12), Paul Harris (one) and Steyn (5) back in hut, leaving the last pair of Wayne Parnell (2*) and Morne Morkell (3*) at the crease.