Amla double ton sets Proteas up nicely

Amla - reaches another milestone.

Hashim Amla hit a superb double century as South Africa moved into a position of domination on the second day of the first Test against India in Nagpur.

Amla hit an unbeaten 253 and was the common denominator in sizeable partnerships with Jacques Kallis (173), AB de Villiers (53) and Mark Boucher (39) as the visitors remorselessly continued to pile on the runs against a toiling and tiring Indian attack.

India's slow bowlers, in the field for almost two full days, found some success with Harbhajan Singh claiming two victims and part-time spinner Virender Sehwag snaring De Villiers but South Africa surprised all by declaring at 558 for six late in the day.

India's openers Gautam Gambhir (12 not out) and Virender Sehwag (nine not out) denied the visitors quick wickets as India finished the day on 25 for no loss.

Kallis and Amla ensured no early breakthroughs for the home side in the morning, although Kallis appeared subdued.

The prolific all-rounder's first runs came in the ninth over in the morning when he lashed Ishant for a boundary, but he added only 14 runs to his overnight total of 159 in close to 90 minutes at the crease before departing.

Kallis inside-edged Harbhajan onto his pads, the ball popping up to Murali Vijay at short leg who completed the dismissal and ended a record third-wicket stand which yielded 340.

Amla ensured South Africa kept the momentum in the morning although he was not quite as solid as Kallis.

He raised South Africa's 300 with an edged boundary through gully and hammered Zaheer Khan for consecutive boundaries - and rode his luck through the day.

He survived two chances on 149 when Murali put down a sitter at short leg and again when wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni grassed a difficult opportunity off the next ball.

De Villiers, who came in at the fall of Kallis' wicket, showed intent and purpose as he forged a partnership with Amla.

He reached his double century with a superbly driven boundary off Sehwag and continued to bat on serenely.

De Villiers used his feet nicely against the spinners and raised his 21st Test half-century with a single off Harbhajan.

Harbhajan and leg-spinner Amit Mishra had time and again gone past the outside edge of both batsmen, but it was Sehwag who found success in the afternoon session.

De Villiers advanced down the track to cart the bowler over the top, but only managed an outside edge which was taken by Subramaniam Badrinath.

Harbhajan then gave the home side a glimmer of hope when he trapped Jean-Paul Duminy (nine) in front, the left-hand batsman attempting a sweep but missing.

However, Boucher, who appeared just before the tea interval, then added 78 for the sixth wicket with Amla, the duo edging the score closer to the 600-run mark.

Zaheer claimed his third victim when he dismissed Boucher, the wicketkeeper batsman perishing while attempting to up the tempo, perhaps to speed up the declaration.

Boucher attempted to swipe Zaheer over the top, but only skied a catch which Mishra neatly took running back from cover.

Although Dale Steyn joined Amla in the middle, the declaration was made before he could get off the mark.

It left India's openers to negotiate a tricky period of four overs before stumps, but Sehwag and Gambhir made a confident start to their innings.

In that brief time, Gambhir hit Morne Morkel for boundaries in successive overs, while Sehwag whipped Steyn for through midwicket for his first boundary..