Zaheer Khan gave India an early breakthrough in the second Test against South Africa, claiming the wicket of Graeme Smith for the second match in a row.

South Africa's captain, struggling with a finger injury, was beaten by an incoming delivery and bowled after scoring four in the third over of the innings.

The tourists won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat for the second straight match.

They lead the two-Test series 1-0 after the innings and six runs victory at Nagpur.

The South Africans recovered after the dismissal of the skipper, but in the third session they found themselves in trouble and were reduced to 266 for 9 at stumps on Day 1.

Despite losing an early wicket the South Africans were unfazed. Debutant Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla rallied them with fluent knocks.

Petersen stroked a fluent half-century, which came off 55 deliveries, while the in-form Amla was on 39 from 55 deliveries as South Africa put up 101 for 1 after 20 overs.

Amla, who hit 253 not out in the previous match, was dropped by VVS Laxman at first slip off Harbhajan Singh on 60, and he made the Indians pay. He completed his second straight century in some style, slamming Ishant Sharma through the covers for a boundary in the 45th over. The right-hander continued his good form as he brought up his century off 124 deliveries, inclusive of 14 boundaries.

But he tried to pull a short delivery from Zaheer and got an edge that was taken by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He was out after a splendid knock of 114 from 166 deliveries, laced with 14 boundaries and a six.

Debutant Petersen became the third South African to score a century on debut before he was caught behind off Zaheer after scoring 100, inclusive of 16 boundaries in his 164-ball knock. He and Amla added 209 runs in 304 deliveries for the second wicket to give South Africa a solid start.

Petersen brought up his century from 160 deliveries. He got a standing ovation from his team mates and fans inside the Eden Gardens on achieving the feat in the 52nd over of the innings.

His joy though was shortlived as he fell in the next over, caught behind by Zaheer. The right-hander impressed everyone with a solid innings of 100 from 164 deliveries, inclusive of 16 boundaries.

India rallied back into the match in the third session of the day after Harbhajan Singh picked three wickets to rock the South Africans.

He first had Jacques Kallis caught out by VVS Laxman. He followed this up by wickets of Ashwell Prince and JP Duminy off successive deliveries to go pass the 350-wicket mark in Test cricket.

Later in the day, Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra got a wicket each to have the South Africans reeling when bad light stopped play.